Biologists at the University of Genoa have succeeded in fertilising some of the adult individuals they are raising in the tanks at the CNR laboratory in Camogli. The researchers induced spawning, the release of male and female gametes, by varying the water temperature. They then collected and counted the released gametes and performed fertilisation, subsequently monitoring larval development for nearly three weeks until the larvae reached the initial umbonal larva stage, with a shell length of 150 microns—a size never before achieved in the laboratory for this species. Unfortunately, larval development spontaneously ceased, but reaching this larval stage represents a significant and tangible step forward in understanding the reproductive mechanisms in captivity of this endangered species.

Video spawning, Carolina Di Napoli
Video larvae, Maria Paola Ferranti