Description of egg capsules of Voluta ebraea Linnaeus, 1758.

MATTHEWS-CASCON, H.; ROCHA-BARREIRA, C.; PENCHASZADEH, P.E. ; BIGATTI, G.

Comunicaciones de la Sociedad Malacológica del Uruguay

Sociedad Malacológica del Uruguay

Año: 2010 vol. 9 p. 237 - 244

0037-8607

Voluta ebraea Linnaeus, 1758 is an endemic volutid from north and northeast Brazil. Characteristic volutid egg capsules were found attached to the alga Udotia occidentalis in sea grass beds. Morphology and size of those egg capsules and embryos as well as protoconch and radulae of juvenile and adults confirm that all the spawns found belong to V. ebraea. Egg capsules, are circular and flattened with a mean diameter of 18.2 mm, presenting analogous morphology and size to those of Voluta musica, endemic from Venezuela. An opening through which crawling juveniles emerge is located at the center of the egg capsules with a suture from the base to the central opening. The average number of hatchlings was three and the mean shell length of juveniles 7.8 mm. Histochemical techniques showed that egg capsules wall is composed of three layers, containing protein, carbohydrates and glycoprotein. Identifying and protecting V. ebraea egg capsules in the wild could help to conserve this endemic and endangered species.