The structure of the ctenidium of the Noble scallop Mimachlamys nobilis was examined. The border of the inner lamina of outer ctenidium and the outer lamina of inner ctenidium was fixed on the adductor muscle with the suspensory membrane of filament. The outer lamina of inner ctenidium and the inner lamina of outer ctenidium were reinforced with the dorsal respiratory expansion. Both the fused border of inner lamina of inner ctenidium and the fused border of outer lamina of outer ctenidium had the structure with which they were possible to peel off at high water pressure. The mouth was covered with the well developed lobe of lip-apparatus. The gill type showed the heterorhabdic filibranch: The principal filaments between inner and outer lamina were joined with the inter-laminar connecting membrane. The principal filament and the ordinary filament, and the adjacent ordinary filaments were connected with the ciliary discs.
Noble scallop
dorsal respiratory expansion
heterorhabdic filibranch
inter-laminar connecting membrane
lobe of the lip-apparatus
suspensory membrane