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Anxo Conde

  • Biodiversity Journal, 8 (4): 915-922

    Anxo Conde & Pilar Solís-Coello
    From the estuary to the Amazon basin: Corbicula fluminea (O.F. Müller, 1774) (Bivalvia Venerida Cyrenidae) in Ecuador

    ABSTRACT
    The Asian clam Corbicula fluminea (O.F. Müller, 1774) (Bivalvia Venerida Cyrenidae) is a non-indigenous invasive species with a vast record of new occurrences worldwide. The salinity and thermal tolerance of the clam led us to look for evidences on the presence of C. fluminea in the Guayas Estuary, Ecuador. The inspection of the upper estuary confirmed our hypothesis. Fresh remains of the clam, along with degraded shells and different shell class sizes (14.62±2.67 mm, mean shell length) were observed. It was concluded that this estuary corresponds most likely to the introduction of C. fluminea in Ecuador. Its occurrence at the upper Amazon basin is attributed to a human mediated introduction linked to the trading use of the clam.