Reproductive characters of fresh water shellfish ( Corbicula sumatrana Clessin) In Singkarak Lake West Sumatra Indonesia

Abstract

Corbicula sumatrana is one of shellfish that could be used as one of water biota in Indonesia. However, until now it has not got good attention This species was caught a lot and used by people as food source. It is hard to get this shellfish now. Mostly shellfish with small size are caught, while the big ones are very rare now. For this reason, a research was done to understand how to culture this kind of shellfish by studying characters of its reproduction in Singkarak lake.Shellfish samples were taken from Singkarak lake, Solok Regency West Sumatera. Analysis of males and females frequency, and histology was done in laboratory. Results showed that the ratio of males and females frequency was 0.95:1 (1 : 1) with the frequency of males 40.80%, females 42.69%, and hermaphrodite individuals 16,51%. Reproductive cycle found in its habitat consisted of 4 phases, early active, active, spawning, and post spawning.Gonad index value ranged 0.78 – 1.30.The peak of spawningof this species occured in June – July 2013.