CORBICULA AND NEOCORBICULA (BIVALVIA, CORBICULIDAE) IN THE PARANA, URUGUAY, AND RIO-DE-LA-PLATA BASINS

Corbicula Megerle, 1811 is represented in Argentinean waters by Corbic ula fluminea (Muller, 1774) and Corbicula largillierti (Philippi, 1844 ). The distribution of Corbicula in the Parana, Uruguay and Rio de La Plata basins is reviewed based on published reports and collections at the Museo de La Plata (MLP) and Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales (MACN). Since its introduction about two decades ago, Corbicula has s pread rapidly along the littoral regions of the Rio de La Plata to Pun to Indio on the western shore, and arroyo Cufre (San Jose Department) on the eastern shore. The genus has recently been reported to occur in the Uruguay River from Gualeguaychu to Rio de La Plata. Additional re cords f rom the Parana River at Paso de La Patria, Isla Barranquera an d Bella Vista are reported. In order to clarify the status and taxonom y of the corbiculids of the area, a brief comparative analysis of the morphology of Corbicula and Neocorbicula Fischer, 1887, is provided.