Three species of Corbicula identified in Guaíba Lake are compared in respect to the external morphology of their soft parts and aspects of branchial incubation. Morphological differences are most obvious in the siphons. For the first time, individuals of C. fluminea have been found with incubation occurring in the outer as well as the inner demibranchs. Individuals of C. largillierti showed incubation only in the inner demibranchs. In specimens identified as C. aff. fluminalis, tetrabranchial incubation predominated.
Freshwater clams; siphons; viviparity; Corbicula fluminea; Corbicula largillierti; Corbicula. aff. fluminalis