Morphology and distribution of the freshwater mussel Diplodon granosus, a rare and poorly understood species

Diplodon granosus was one of the first freshwater mussels to be described for South America. However, the status of the species was confusing for a long time, receiving different taxonomic treatments. In this paper, we redescribe the shell, with new data on the soft parts and information on the distribution and conservation of D. granosus, a rarely recorded species. The shell is thin, not inflated; the macrosculpture is composed only by granules that cover the whole shell, not forming bars; the microsculpture comprises short spikes. In the soft parts we highlight the few, weak and irregularly distributed lamellar connections of the outer demibranch and some features of the stomach, such as the distally enlarged minor typhlosole. There are records of D. granosus over a large area of South America, from Guiana to Argentina. However, most of these records are related to other species and the distribution of D. granosus is restricted to the north of South America in the basins of the Amazonas and Orinoco rivers, and coastal rivers in between. Despite this wide distribution, the species occurs in specific habitats, mainly streams (igarapés), resulting in an extremely fragmented occurrence. Thus, any disturbance to these habitats can threat this freshwater mussel. (AU)

Freshwater mussels from South America: state of the art of Unionida, specially Rhipidodontini / Bivalves de água doce da América do Sul: estado da arte de Unionida, especialmente Rhipidodontini

Abstract Unionida is the most diverse clade of freshwater bivalves. Among the groups occurring in South America, one with the highest number of species is Rhipidodontini (Hyriidae, Unionida, Paleoheterodonta, Bivalvia). However several issues remains on taxonomy and systematic of this group, leading to problems on species identification, description, as also as a limiting factor to other type of studies (e.g., ecology, conservation,…). In this paper is presented a synthesis of available knowledge about Diplodon Spix in Wagner, 1827 and Rhipidodonta Mörch, 1853 in South America, as a first step in order to a better understating of Rhipidodontini. The evaluation of different authors exposes the little agreement between them that resulted in a sort of divergent taxonomical opinions. Some comments on ecology, conservation and habitat preferences were made. This work can also encourage future research on taxonomy, systematic, ecology and conservation of freshwater mussels in South America.

Resumo Unionida é o clado mais diverso de bivalves de água doce. Entre os grupos que ocorrem na América do Sul, um dos com maior número de espécies é Rhipidodontini (Hyriidae, Unionida, Paleoheterodonta, Bivalvia). Porém, diversas questões taxonômicas e sistemáticas ainda incidem sob este grupo, levando a problemas de identificação de espécies, descrição, entre outros, como também tem atuado como limitador de outros tipos de estudos (e.g., ecologia, conservação,..). Neste trabalho é apresentada uma revisão do conhecimento acerca dos gêneros Diplodon Spix in Wagner, 1827 e Rhipidodonta Mörch, 1853 na América do Sul como um primeiro passo para a melhor compreensão de Rhipidodontini. Avaliando-se diferentes autores, se torna claro a pouca concordância entre eles, resultando em opiniões taxonômicas divergentes. São feitos também alguns comentários sobre ecologia, conservação e preferências ambientais. Este trabalho também deve encorajar futuros trabalhos sobre a taxonomia, sistemática, ecologia e conservação de bivalves de água na América do Sul.

The anatomy and functional morphology of Diplodon rhombeus fontainianus (Orbigny, 1835) (Mollusca Bivalvia, Hyriidae) / Anatomia funcional e morfologia de Diplodon rhombeus fontainianus (Orbigny, 1835) (Bivalvia: Hyriidae)

Diplodon rhombeus fontainianus (Orbigny, 1835), belongs to the family Hyriidae Swainson 1840, the distribution of which is restricted to South America and Australasia. This species, endemic to Brazil, occurs in the central-southern geographical region, Upper Paraná Basin and Atlantic Microbasins Espirito Santo to Paraná states. The mollusk lives buried in muddy substrata, has similar sized adductor muscles, and is dioecious, lacking sexual dimorphism. The apertures are simple (type AII of Yonge, 1948, 1957) as in Diplodon rotundus gratus, Castalia undosa martensi, Castalia undosa undosa and mantle fusion is present only in the base of the exalant aperture. The inhalant aperture exhibits tentacles originating from the inner fold while the exhalant aperture has no tentacles. The ctenidia are type D (of Atkins, 1937). A well-developed marsupium is present in the inner demibranch. The association between the ctenidia and the labial palps belongs to category I (of Stasek, 1963). The stomach constitutes a type IV structure (of Purchon, 1958). The posterior sorting area (psa) presents two pouches in Diplodon rhombeus fontainianus. Among the Hyriidae, the presence of these pouches has also been described in several species of Hyriidae from South America. The organization of the gut in the visceral mass follows the same pattern seen in the Hyriidae already studied: Castalia undosa martensi, Castalia undosa undosa, Diplodon.rotundus gratus,Diplodon charruanus and Diplodon pilsbryi.

Diplodon rhombeus fontainianus (Orbigny, 1835) pertence à família Hyriidae Swainson 1840, cuja distribuição restringe-se à América do Sul e Austrália. A espécie, endêmica no Brasil, ocorre na região Centro Sul, na bacia superior do Paraná e microbacias da costa atlântica do Estado do Espírito Santo até o Estado do Paraná. Os moluscos vivem enterrados em substratos lodosos, têm os músculos adutores aproximadamente do mesmo tamanho, são dióicos faltando dimorfismo sexual. As aberturas são simples, tipo AII de Yonge (1948, 1957) semelhantes a Diplodon rotundus gratus, Castalia undosa martensi, Castalia undosa undosa e a fusão do manto ocorre apenas na dobra interna na base da abertura exalante. A abertura inalante exibe tentáculos de origem da dobra interna e a exalante não possui tentáculos. Os ctenídios são do tipo D (de Atkins, 1937). O marsúpio, presente na demibrânquia interna, é bem desenvolvido. O estômago pertence ao tipo IV (de Purchon, 1958). A área de triagem posterior (psa) em Diplodon rhombeus fontainianus é caracterizada pela presença de duas bolsas. Entre os Hyriidae, estas bolsas foram descritas em várias espécies presente na América do Sul. A organização do intestino na massa visceral segue o mesmo padrão visto em Hyriidae já estudados tais como: Castalia undosa martensi, Diplodon delodontus wimanii,Diplodon rotundus gratus, Castalia undosa martensi, Diplodon charruanus, Diplodon pilsbryi e Castalia undosa undosa.