Hi all,

Anyone knows WHY certain molluscan familes prevail in chemosynthetic
environments (hydrothermal vents, cold hydrocarbon seeps, whalefalls...) ?

The majority(?) of gastropods is represented by Clypeosectidae, Cyathermiidae,
Lepetodrillidae, Neomphalidae, Peltospiridae, Pyropeltidae, Scissurelidae…,
all related to limpets.
OK, there are also Buccinidae, Trochidae and Turridae, but primitive limpet-
related snails prevail.
Among bivalves mytilidae & vesicomyidae seem to outnumber other families.

In case that hydrothermal vents are cradle of life it is reasonable to expect
that primitive limpet-related gastropods will prevail, but as far as I know
most taxa “returned” to vents from normal environments. Only Neomphalidae show
long term in situ evolution. So, what enables certain groups of molluscs to
invade chemosynthetic environment?

Milan


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