Abstract

Six species of freshx\water Unionidae mussels in Korea, Anodonta arcaeformis flavotincta, A. woodiana, Unio douglasiae, U. douglasiae sinuloatus, Lamprotula gottschei, Lanceolaria acorohyncha were compared in regard to the various taxonomical characteristics of ultra structures of shells and glochidia. The results obtained in this study are summarized as follows;the orter demibranchs of all the females of six species have served as marsupial(gravid)pouch. However, all the foru demibranchs were used as the marsupium in some female individuals of L. gottschei. The glochidia of A. arcaeformis flavotincta, A. woodiana and L. gottschei were separated one by one with the mucous strings and U. douglasiae sinuolatus were round-subtriangular in shape, and those of L. gottschei were subelliptical in shape. Each of the glochidial shell valves of six species had a hook studded with many spines on the superior face on valve. The glochidial shell valve had two or three rows of large spines; A. arcaeformis flavotincta, A. woodiana, and L. gottschei had two rows and three rows in U. douglasiae, U. douglasiae sinuolatus, and L. acrorhyncha. The numbers of sensory hairs of A. arcaeformis flavotincta and A. woodiana were all eight, those of U. douglasiae, U. douglasiae sinuolatus and L. acrorhyncha were six. and that of L. gottschei was four. The external and internal surfaces of the glochidial shell valves of A. A. arcadformis flavotincta, A. woodiana, and L. gottschei had foveolate and psilate in U. douglaseae, U. douglasiae sinuolatus and L. acrorhyncha.