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DONACIDAE |
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Tentidonax veruinus (Hedley, 1913) Description:
Shape very elongate, length 2-3 times height; umbo at
posterior third. Exterior polished, smooth; posterior end with
6-10 strong rounded radial ribs. Interior with muscle scars and
pallial line indistinct; ventral margin crenulate. Hinge Right
valve with strong triangular cardinal tooth that fits between 2 weaker
cardinals in left valve. Ligament
very thin, external, but it disintegrates completely as soon as the
animal dies and so there is no trace in most shells in museum
collections, even fresh specimens. Shell colour internally patchy
white, purple or brown; exterior white with concentric bands of grey or
purple; white radial lines within nacre. Periostracum thin,
brown, restricted to posterior ribs. Size: Up to 14 mm in length. Distribution:
In Australia, known from Shark Bay, WA, around northern Australia
and southwards to Cronulla, Sydney, NSW. The distribution of this
species outside Australia is unclear; the Australian Museum holds one
lot supposedly from Pakistan, and Huber (2010) reported it from China
but these records are probably incorrect. Habitat: Assumed to be shallow subtidal in
sand. Common. Remarks: This is a distinctive species. The
elongate shell form, radial lines in the nacre, strong radial ribs
posteriorly, crenulate margin, and rapid disintegration of the ligament make
the species distinctive. Fig. 1: Trial
Bay, NSW (C.28440) |
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