Sexual Dimorphism on the Shell of Littorina brevicula (Philippi) (Gastropoda: Littorinidae)

Study on sexual dimorphism in Littorphism in Littorina brevicula should be interesting to examine that how the species prevent niche-overlap between the sexes? and how the species act differently in the reproductive roles of the sexes? Sexual dimorphism on the shell of L. brevicula was examined with 211 periwinkles larger than 5 mm shell length in Pusan, Korea. Sexual dimorphism was detected in the aperture length only. Aperture length of the female was longer than that of the male. A difference in the sexual role in the reproduction seems to be a probable explanation for the sexual dimorphism in the aperture length. The reproductive role of the male is to choose the best female and to transfer the sperm successfully by copulation, and the role of the female is to spawn their fertilised eggs into the seawater successfully. Perhaps females migrate to lower elevations on the shore than the males, so that they are submerged when they spawn. Because wave action at the lower area of the shore is stranger than that at the higher area on the shore, the females might need larger aperture size than the males to avoid dislodgement.