Abstract

The metamorphosis and the growth of larva in Limnoperna fortunei were studied from October, 1981 to December, 1983. 1) The larva of this species is observed in the three different stages in the form of D-shaped. The shell length of the larva in the early stage is <TEX>$130.44{\mu}m$</TEX> to <TEX>$143.60{\mu}m$</TEX> and in the middle stage <TEX>$161.67{\mu}m$</TEX> to <TEX>$184.11{\mu}m$</TEX>. In the late stage the length size of the larva increases up to <TEX>$194.55{\mu}m$</TEX> to <TEX>$208.45{\mu}m$</TEX>. The shell height is <TEX>$103.19{\mu}m$</TEX>, to <TEX>$119.47{\mu}m$</TEX>, <TEX>$126.51{\mu}m$</TEX> to <TEX>$157.63{\mu}m$</TEX> and <TEX>$136.87{\mu}m$</TEX> to <TEX>$176.35{\mu}m$</TEX> in the three stages respectively. Thus the growth ratio of shell length to shell height is 1:0.75. 2) The metamorphosing stage begins when the shell height becomes larger than <TEX>$210{\mu}m$</TEX> and the shell length exceedes <TEX>$260{\mu}m$</TEX>.