The mussels

OBJECTIVE: See and observe the sexual dimorphism of different mussels.

MATERIAL:

• Fresh and closed mussels
• Knife
• Scissors
• Forceps
• Latex gloves
• Dropper
• Distilled water
• Needles
• Spatula
• Microscope
• Slide and corverslip

PROCEDURE: In this case we are going to observe a male mussel.

1. Take a mussel and open it with the help of a knife.
2. Then observe if it's a female of a male. The females are more orange than the males, that are more white.
3. Observe the parts of your mussel, like the gonads, or the foot. 
4. On the gonad we are going to see a white liquid that is the semen of the mussel. 
5. With a spatula take a sample of the semen and put it in a slide with a coverslip and observe it in the microscope. 
6. If the microscope is good we can get to see the sperms.
7. If you want you can cut some part of the mussel and put it in a loupe to observe it.

QUESTIONS:

1. Differences between male and female mussel. The male mussel is more largest than the female that is more ovalated. Also the females are orange and the males are more white.
2. Mark the anatomical parts of the mussel. 
3. Family, class, order and suborder in Latin. Mytilidae, bivalvia, mytiloida, pteriomorphia.
4. Do the gametes move? Why the male mussel have the tail smaller than in human espermatozoides? The gametes do not move and the tail of a male mussel espermatozoides are smaller than in human espermatozoides because it doesn't have to move a lot to fertilize the ovum.
5. Internal or external fertilization? As much as the fertilization and the development of the zygote occurs at the exterior.