The Japanese oyster drill Ocinebrellus inornatus (Récluz, 1851) (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Muricidae), introduced to the Limfjord, Denmark

• Published in: Aquatic Invasions
• Main Authors: Lützen, J., Faasse, M., Gittenberger, A., Glenner, H., Hoffmann, E.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: Introduced species; Ocinebrellus inornatus; ANE; Denmark; Limfjorden; Pacific; Crassostrea gigas; Pacific oyster
• Online Access: https://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/286920.pdf

The predatory neogastropod Ocinebrellus inornatus was first reported from Europe in W France in 1995 and has since been detected at other sites in NW and N France and The Netherlands. It is native to the North Pacific where it preys on the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas . Here we report on the occurrence of the species in beds of European oysters ( Ostrea edulis ) in the Limfjord, NW Jutland, Denmark. The morphology-based identification has been confirmed by genetic analysis. The species was probably introduced with oysters imported from France in the 1970s and 1980s. The invasion is still relatively localized but as the species has established a reproductive population, it may eventually spread to other parts of the fjord and in time pose a problem to the oyster fishery. The species’ invasion history is reviewed.