The family Pectinidae in South Africa and Mozambique (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Pectinoidea)
Author
Dijkstra, H. H.
Author
Kilburn, R. N.
text
African Invertebrates
2001
2001-12-31
42
263
321
journal article
10.5281/zenodo.7910445
2305-2562
7910445
Juxtamusium maldivense
(E. A. Smith, 1903)
(Figs 14–15)
Pecten maldivensis
E. A. Smith, 1903: 622
, pl. 36, figs 19–20.
Type
locality: Suvadiva Atoll,
Maldive
Islands, Indian Ocean,
7–80 m
.
Juxtamusium maldivense
; Dijkstra, 1984: 8, fig.;
idem
, 1991: 47;
idem
, 1998: 23, pl. 3, figs 1–3;
Rombouts,
1991: 60, pl. 26, fig. 7;
Dijkstra & Knudsen, 1998: 64
, pl. 5, fig. 22 (further references,
type
data,
distribution, discussion).
Description: Shell thin, height to
25 mm
(average
ca.
15 mm
), compressed, suborbicular, higher than wide, slightly equilateral, auricles unequal, umbonal angle
ca.
90°. Both valves slightly convex, RV somewhat more so than LV, with numerous fine, irregularly spaced, angular radial riblets, increasing by bifurcation and/or intercalation, and microscopic very closely spaced commarginal lamellae. Posterior auricle larger than anterior, with
ca.
3–7 radial riblets, sometimes very weak. Hinge straight. Byssal fasciole narrow, byssal notch shallow. Ctenolium present along suture in both valves. Resifer
14
15
Figs 14–15.
Juxtamusium maldivense
(Smith, 1903)
: HD 2734 (ex NMSA D8069), SE of Kosi
Bay
, Zululand,
65 m
, pv, 23.0 x
21.2 mm
. 14. LV exterior. 15. RV exterior.
oblong and oblique.Auricular crura weak. Inner surface somewhat plicated near ventral margin. Colour variable, cream to pink, with shades of red or brown and lighter and darker blotches, interior purple or reddish, RV paler; sometimes more uniform in colour.
Type
material: see
Dijkstra & Knudsen (1998)
.
Regional data:
SOUTH AFRICA
:
Zululand
(all
NMSA
:
NMDP
, selected records only): off
Kosi Bay
,
50 m
, medium sand, algae, live (D6888);
SE of Kosi Bay
,
50 m
, medium sand and algae, live (D6253); same loc.,
65 m
, sponge, gorgonians, medium sand, live (D8069); same loc.,
48 m
, sand and rubble, live (D8716); off
Jesser Point
,
70 m
, medium sand, dead (D8450); off
Boteler Point
,
50 m
, coral, sponges, live (D6839); same loc.,
50 m
, coral rubble, live (D7741); same loc.,
78 m
, marine growths, dead (S6649); same loc.,
53 m
, lithothamnial pebbles, sand, dead (S6875); same loc.,
50 m
, coral rubble, lithothamnion, live (D7429); same loc.,
50 m
, coral rubble, lithothamnion, dead (D9204);
NE of Dog Point
,
56–57 m
, sand, lithothamnial pebbles, live (S5050);
NE of Liefeldt’s Rocks
,
50 m
, lithothamnion, medium sand, dead coral rubble, dead (E4319); same loc.,
50 m
, lithothamnion stones, coarse sand, live (E4400)
.
Distribution: Throughout tropical Indo-West Pacific (except
Hawaii
and Polynesia), south-western limit northern Zululand.
Habitat: Living byssally attached to coral branches, under rocks or between coral rubble on sandy bottoms at littoral to sublittoral depths.
Remarks:
Juxtamusium coudeini
(
Bavay, 1903
)
, its only congener, is morphologically very similar but attains a somewhat larger size (to
ca.
30 mm
high), with fewer, more regularly spaced, rounded radial riblets. For more information on functional morphology and ecology see
Waller (1972: 253)
. Present specimens from
South Africa
are similar to the
type
material, although the angular radial riblets are slightly more prominent.