Ontogenesis and settlements of the date mussel Lithophaga lithophaga (L., 1758) (Bivalvia: Mytilidae)

This paper describes larval and post-larval forms of the date mussel, Lithophaga lithophaga, produced by artificial reproduction, the culture of larvae collected in plankton samples, and the culture of recently settled spat. Also described are methods for spawning and stages of ontogenesis. The settlement substrates were determined, and the density of the individuals, size composition, number of changes in growth axis, and occurrence of white-shelled, abnormal, and pearl-bearing individuals were studied. The material which was examined came from samples of settled L. lithophaga collected from 16 stations in the Evoikos Gulf.