Evidence of a sexual pause in Bathymodiolus azoricus (Bivalvia: Mytilidae) from hydrothermal vents of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Abstract

Histological sections of the gonad of Bathymodiolus azoricus from the Lucky Strike and Menez Gwen hydrothermal vent fields (Mid-Atlantic Ridge) demonstrated a spawning event in this species in May 1994, synchronous between the two vent fields located 60 km apart, and a sexual pause in gametogenesis. As reported for other vent mytilid species, B. azoricus from Lucky Strike and Menez Gwen could exhibit hermaphroditism.