ARCHHAN ENGLISH, iNewsBekasi.id – There are at least 13 species New freshwater mollusk discovered on Kolguev IslandLaut Barents, Russia. Where are the scientist found more of these near Kolguev after the retreat of the glacier.
For your information, Kolguev is a small island in the North Pole or Arctic . The only study of molluscs was made in 1895, when a British naturalist, Colonel Henry Wemyss Feilden, was collecting mollusk shells during a complex expedition.
“No research has been carried out since then. During our research, we have found 13 new species on the (Kolguev) island, in addition to three species previously discovered by British researchers,” Olga Aksenova from the Russian Central Museum of Biological Diversity told TASS, Monday (16/1/2023).
This is the first time that scientists from the Federal Research Center for Complex Arctic Studies (Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences) have studied complex freshwater mollusks in Kolguev Island. Mollusk comes from the Latin molluscus which means soft. So molluscs are coelomate triploblastic animals with soft bodies, such as various types of snails, chitons, shellfish, and squid.
In addition to gastropods and mollusks from the families Lymnaeidae (pond fish) and Planorbidae (Coils), scientists have discovered small clam mollusks from the family Sphaeriidae, as well as representatives of the family Valvatidae (Valves). For the first time valves were discovered on an arctic island.
“Experts believe that they can only be found on the mainland. These are attractive mollusks, their mouths are closed with lids, and thus they can tolerate unfavorable conditions,” says Olga Aksenova.
In determining the species, in addition to different shell shapes, experts use genetic analysis. Interestingly, the nucleotide sequence of the islanders is identical or only slightly different from their relatives living in Siberia, the Far East and North America.
Scientists found out that the mollusk settled near Kolguev relatively recently, after the retreat of the glaciers. They can settle alone in water systems, and with the help of waterfowl. Kolguev Island is known to be a famous nesting site for many species of birds.
