Morphological Characters and Molecular Phylogeny of the Invasive Spiny File Clam, Lima lima (Bivalvia: Limidae) from the Expansion Channel of the Suez Canal.

Studying the morphological features of the invasive spiny file clam Lima lima was conducted for the first time in the expansion channel of the Suez Canal. Morphological descriptions were based on their exterior morphology and number of radial ribs (mean = 18). Various measurements were recorded, and biometric relationships were examined, particularly the correlations between the independent parameter shell length (SL) and various dependent parameters. Notably, the relationships with shell height and shell inflation demonstrated negative allometric growth. Moreover, regression that describes the relationship between shell length (SL) and soft body weight had a coefficient of determination R2= 0.709, showing a high significant correlation and a negative growth. Molecular analysis showed that the mantle had the highest quantity and optimum quality of gDNA, while the muscles had low value of DNA concentration. Integration of the morphological characteristics by molecular examination using DNA barcoding was designed to confirm the identification of the anti-lessepsian migrant clam L. lima collected from the expansion channel of the Suez Canal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]