<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Growth, age and reproduction of the commercially clams <i>Venerupis aurea and Ruditapes decussatus </i>in Timsah Lake, Suez Canal, Egypt </span>

Abstract

589-600This study was undertaken of natural population of Venerupis aurea and Ruditapes decussatus from three sites in Timsah Lake, Suez Canal, Egypt. Population structures, growth characteristic, age and gametogenic cycle of these clams were studied. Dominant size was 20.1-25 mm for both genera. Age ranged from the first to the fifth with the dominance of the third age group in Venerupis aurea. Whereas it reached to the sixth age group in Ruditapes decussatus with the dominance of the fourth. The male/female ratio was 1.02: 1 and 1.25:1 for Venerupis aurea and Ruditapes decussatus respectively. Five stages of gonadal development were observed and seasonal gonadal changes were registered. Comparisons of the present study with that previously obtained on the same genera were reported