Reproductive aspects of the poorly known and critically endangered freshwater snail Heleobia atacamensis (Gastropoda: Truncatelloidea).

ABSTRACT: Knowing the reproductive biology of threatened species is essential for conservation and to establish proper management plans. Heleobia atacamensis, a freshwater snail only known from two locations in the Atacama Saltpan, northern Chile, is currently classified as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List and Critically Endangered by the Ministerio del Medio Ambiente of Chile. Based on size-frequency distribution, multivariate analysis of shell measurements, and microdissections, we studied the reproductive strategy, recruitment period, sex ratio and sexual dimorphism in this species. Heleobia atacamensis is an oviparous species, with direct development (non-planktotrophic). Females lay capsules of a single egg from which a juvenile resembling a miniature adult hatches after intrac

SUBMITTER: Collado GA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8378341 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature