3217
Author
Raines, Bret
Author
Huber, Markus
text
Zootaxa
2012
2012-02-29
3217
1
106
journal article
11755334
Funafutia levukana
(E.A.
Smith, 1885
)
Figures 24 E–G
Lucina levukana
E.A.
Smith, 1885
: p. 181
, pl. 13, fig. 6.
Funafutia levukana
(E.A.
Smith, 1885
)
—
Glover & Taylor, 2001
: p. 286
, figs. 22 A-D;
Tröndlé & Boutet, 2009
: p. 8
.
Material examined.
More than fifty single valves from
EI
and
SyG
(BK), plus specimens from the
Marquesas Islands
(
MHU
).
Diagnosis.
Shell small (up to
6 mm
in length), suborbicular, equivalve, inequilateral, not fragile. Umbones elevated. Exterior surface of irregularly spaced prominent, rounded commarginal lamellae, microscopic radials.
Interior
smooth with continuous pallial line; margins finely crenulate. Hinge stout, consisting of two cardinals in the LV, and one cardinal in the RV with prominent posterior and anterior laterals. Color white.
Remarks.
The oblique shape, lamellate sculpture with microscopic radials, the crenulated margin and the hinge configuration closely approach the
type
species
Funafutia levukana
(E.A.
Smith 1885
)
. Species within the genus
Levukana
are typically known from shallow water to
40 m
, with a size of
6 mm
. The
EI
species is known from
20–100 m
, also from caves in
35–40 m
(Motu Tantara) with a maximum size of
5 mm
.
Although the
EI
material has a somewhat denser commarginal sculpture with weaker radials and a slightly less pronounced anterior lateral in the LV, J. Taylor, (pers. comm., 2010) confirmed the specimens to be within the normal variability of
F. levukana
. Sizes and depths are comparable. Most likely, this species conforms to
Kay (1995: 155)
Lucina
species
from Easter Island.
Habitat.
Commonly found at many locations around
EI
and
SyG
, in fine sand, from
20–100 m
.
Distribution.
Funafutia levukana
is known from eastern Africa to the
Marquesas Islands
, but has not been recorded from the Hawaiian Islands. The presence of this species on Easter and Salas y Gómez Islands represents a range extension—
E4
.