Abstract:
On December 23 and 24, 2004, a biological survey of bivalve-inhabiting hydrozoans and pearls was conducted on 398 specimens of five bivalve species (158 specimens of perna viridis, 148 of Saccostrea forskali, 81 Meretrix meretrix, 39 M. lyrata and 72 Tegillarca granosa), all obtained in a field and a seafood market in the eastern coasts of the Gulf of Thailand. High number of pearls (31 and 26) embedded in the mantle were detected in two speciments of perna viridis. Furthermore, many blister pearls (attached pearl) were produced on the inner surface of these shells. However, bivalve-inhabiting hydroids were no yet found in the mantle cavity of any bivalve species examined, though other commensal animals such as copepods and turbellarians were found.
