THE EXOTIC BIVALVE Electroma vexillum (REEVE, 1857) (BIVALVIA: VULSELLIDAE) ON THE BRAZILIAN COAST

O bivalve exótico Electroma vexillum (Reeve, 1857) (Bivalvia: Vulsellidae) na costa brasileira

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36517/acmar.v58i1.95522

Abstract

The presence of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea bivalve Electroma vexillum (Reeve, 1857) was observed for the first time on the coasts of Ceará and Piauí. The occurrence of Electroma vexillum was recorded in association with solid waste deposited in the wrack zone, algae and marine angiosperm samples, on sandy beaches, sandstone reefs and sand-mud flats in estuarine areas. Local fishermen also reported the bivalve attached to nets and other fishing gear. The shell of E. vexillum is inequivalve, with the left valve being flattened and the right valve convex, overlapping the left. The average length of the specimens was 7.8mm, with and average length/height (L/H) ratio of 1.36mm. Further investigations are necessary to assess the ecological impact of this bivalve, which has previously caused damage to oyster farming structures in its native range. The potential consequences to native fauna, coastal ecosystems and mariculture facilities in Brazil raise concerns, emphasizing the urgency for continued monitoring and mitigation efforts. The recently described Electroma electra Simone, 2024 is discussed.

Keywords: Invasive species, Marine litter, Coastal ecosystems

Author Biographies

  • Cristina de Almeida Rocha Barreira, Instituto de Ciências do Mar, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Ceará, Brasil

     

     

  • Ellano José da Silva, Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia de Roraima, Campus Novos Paraíso, Roraima, Brasil

     

     

  • P. Graham Oliver Graham Oliver, Honorary Research Fellow, Amgeddfa Cymru: National Museum of Wales, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom

     

     

  • Roberto Aurélio Almeida Carvalho, Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Rio Grande do Norte, Campus Macau, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil

     

     

  • Francisca Mariuza Menezes, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Marinhas Tropicais, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Ceará, Brasil

     

     

  • Lucas Brito, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Marinhas Tropicais, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Ceará, Brasil

     

     

     

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Published

2025-07-14

How to Cite

THE EXOTIC BIVALVE Electroma vexillum (REEVE, 1857) (BIVALVIA: VULSELLIDAE) ON THE BRAZILIAN COAST: O bivalve exótico Electroma vexillum (Reeve, 1857) (Bivalvia: Vulsellidae) na costa brasileira. (2025). Arquivos De Ciências Do Mar, 58(1). https://doi.org/10.36517/acmar.v58i1.95522