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CARDITIDAE CUNINAE |
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Cuna delta (Tate & May, 1900) Description: Shell minute. Prodissoconch relatively small, dome-shaped, rim thickened. Shape umbo on midline, dorsally triangular, ventrally semi-circular. Escutcheon wide, lunule narrow. Exterior with weak, low, rounded commarginal ribs, sometimes absent, and numerous growth lines. Interior smooth, margin with 11-13 denticles. Hinge strong. Ligament internal. Shell translucent to opaque white. Size: Up to 2.2 mm in length. Distribution: Bowen, Qld, southwards and around southern Australia, to Cape Leeuwin, WA, including Tas. Habitat: Known from beach washup and down to 570 m depth. The AMS collection holds 89 lots, indicating this is a common species. Comparison: This is similar in shape to C. concentrica but the external sculpture is weaker and irregular. Synonymy: A previously recognised synonym is Volupicuna novacambrica Laseron, 1953 from Sydney Harbour. Fig. 1: Derwent Estuary, Tasmania (C.8180, SYNTYPES). SEM images Peter Middelfart, Australian Museum. |
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