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CARDITIDAE, CUNINAE |
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Cuna vitrea (Laseron, 1953) Description: Shell minute. Prodissoconch small, dome-shaped, rim thickened. Shape triangular, umbo slightly posterior to midline, anterodorsal and posterodorsal margins weakly convex. Escutcheon wide, lunule narrower. Exterior without sculpture, or with weak, low commarginal ribs. Interior margin smooth or with 10-11 denticles. Hinge strong. Ligament internal. Shell translucent when live, opaque white when dead. Size: Up to 1.2 mm in length. Distribution: From Swain Reefs, Qld, southwards to Sydney, NSW. Habitat: Known from beach washup and down to 86 m depth. The AMS collection holds 11 lots, suggesting this is an uncommon species. Comparison: This species is characterised by the weak or absent exterior sculpture. In describing the species, Laseron (1953) said “Sculpture practically none, confined to a few irregular growth lines”, but subsequent collecting has revealed specimens with weak commarginal ribs. Synonymy: None. Fig. 1: Exterior: Narrabeen Beach, Sydney, NSW (C.407758 LECTOTYPE of Warrana vitrea Laseron, 1953. Interior: Narrabeen Beach, Sydney, NSW (C.90564, PARALECTOTYPE). SEM images by Peter Middelfart, Australian Museum. |
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