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CARDITIDAE CUNINAE |
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Cuna libbyae Middelfart, 2002 Description: Shell minute. Prodissoconch relatively small, dome-shaped, rim thickened. Shape triangular, umbo on midline, anterodorsal margin convex, posterodorsal margin weakly convex. Escutcheon wide, lunule narrower. Exterior with 10-11 broad, flat radial ribs. Interior with muscle scars well-defined, margin with 8-9 squared denticles. Hinge strong. Ligament internal. Shell translucent to opaque white. Size: Up to 1.8 mm in length. Distribution: Known from SE of Swain Reefs, Qld, southwards to off Sydney, NSW. Habitat: Records from 115-1465 m depth. The AMS collection holds 16 lots of this deep-water species, suggesting it is common in its habitat. Comparison: Within the genus Cuna this species is characterised by the low, radial ribs. Fig. 1: Exterior: Off Sydney, NSW (C.406268 HOLOTYPE). Interior: Off Sydney (PARATYPE C.387700). SEM images Peter Middelfart, Australian Museum. |
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