ALLOZYME VARIATION IN A FRESH-WATER MUSSEL POPULATION (COELATURA-KUNENENSIS MOUSSON, 1887) FROM SOUTHERN AFRICA

Gene products of 35 protein coding loci in Coelatura kunenensis (Mollu sca, Lamellibranchiata) were examined by horizontal starch gel electro phoresis. Electrophoretic analysis of enzymatic proteins revealed gene tic variation at 12 (34.3%) of the loci studied. Values of 28.57 (0.95 criterion), 1.43 (+/-0.12) and 0.075 (+/-0.025) were obtained for the percentage of polymorphic loci, the mean number of alleles per locus and average heterozygosity respectively. Genetic variation compares fa vourably with values obtained for other species in general, but it is less than previous estimates based on fewer loci for intertidal mollus c and freshwater bivalve species.