Revision of the Bivalvia from the Upper Jurassic Reuchenette Formation, Northwest Switzerland — Ostreoidea
Author
Koppka, Jens
text
Zootaxa
2015
3927
1
1
117
journal article
10.11646/zootaxa.3927.1.1
c9f96009-d3d4-4977-9cd5-6004214d1036
1175-5326
288034
42B56D11-9B18-4FCC-B632-30A46AB0205C
Helvetostrea
n. gen.
sequana
(Thurmann &
Etallon, 1862
)
Figs. 14–16
; Pl. 4.7–9; Pl. 11.1–5; Pl. 12.1–2; Pl. 20.2
? 1848
Ostrea sequana
—Dufrénoy & de Beaumont: p. 594.
1852a
Ostrea Sequana
nob.—Thurmann: p. 213 (nom. nud.).
1854
Ostrea Sequana
Th.
—Thurmann: p. 354 (nom. nud.). 1858
Ostrea sequana
Thurm.
—Oppel: p. 150, 164, 165.
1861
Ostrea Sequana
, Th.
—Thurmann & Etallon: p. 37, 64. 1862
Ostrea Sequana
, Th.
—Etallon: p. 407.
* 1862
Ostrea sequana
, Th.
—Thurmann & Etallon: p. 270, pl. 38, fig. 6. 1870
Ostrea Sequana
, Th.
—Greppin, J.-B.: p. 104.
1887
Ostrea sequana
Th.
—Roberts: p. 238.
1917
Ostrea Sequana
(Thurm.) Etallon—Rollier
: p. 589.
1971
Liostrea sequana
(Thurmann, 1862)
—Pugaczewska: p. 257, pl. 16, figs. 1–4.
Lectotype
(designated herein)
.
Ostrea sequana
Thurmann &
Etallon, 1862
, p. 270–271, pl. 39, fig. 1, left valve. The
type
specimen (refigured on Fig. 15.1) was not traceable in the MJSN Porrentruy and is apparently lost. However, ICZN Article 74.4 permits the designation of an illustration as
lectotype
when the
type
specimen is lost or not traceable.
Combe d'Essert-Tainie, a gorge (not traceable on the available maps of the region) but situated most likely northwest of Bressaucourt (near Chevenez, Ajoie, Canton Jura), "Marnes à Astartes" (now Bure Member, Vellerat Formation,
Epipeltoceras bimammatum
Zone
), Upper Oxfordian; coordinates:
47°23'17.36''N
,
7°02'15.98''E
; the coordinates refer to Bressaucourt.
Material.
Lectotye (see above) and
paralectotype
(AC1766, B.4.15.4.1)—Only one small rock-sample from the
type
series was traceable in the
MJSN
Porrentruy. The small piece of grey, dense limestone contains several cross-sections of weathered and only partially preserved specimens exhibiting the typical hollow chambers of
H. sequana
but no other shell details. Due to the poor preservation none of the specimens is suitable to be chosen as
lectotype
.
The original label of the
paralectotype
refers to
Ostrea sequana
nob, Th. 1846, from Bressaucourt. However, according to Etallon’s introduction to the “Lethea
bruntrutana
” (
Thurmann and Etallon, 1861, p. 3
), the species name was initially a
nomen nudum
based on an unpublished note by Thurmann (1848) titled “Sur l’
Ostrea sequana
”. Therefore, Dufrénoy & de Beaumont (1848) and Thurmann (1852, 1854) can only have referred to this unpublished name, whereas the valid introduction is given in Thurmann &
Etallon (1862)
.
Others—One small (“juvenile”)
LV
from the basal Banné Member (horizon 300,
cymodoce
Zone, Lower Kimmeridgian) of Vâ Tche Tchâ near Courtedoux (
VTT
001-1169b, Pl. 11.3) and more than 20 larger (“adult”) specimens (mostly
LV
, Pl. 4.7–8; Pl. 11; Pl. 12.1–2) from the “Virgulien” facies of the uppermost Courtedoux Member, Upper Kimmeridgian (horizons 2400–3500,
mutabilis
Zone,
lallierianum
Subzone) of Sur Combe Ronde (SCR) and Tchâfouè (TCH) near Courtedoux. The best preserved specimens are listed in the Appendix,
Table 5
.
Two small and thin-shelled specimens labelled as
Ostrea sequana
Thurmann
(
MJSN
S.1337, A.2.18.2.4) from the Koby collection in the
MJSN
belong to an undetermined liostreine species.
Description
. Shape, size—Highly variable including subrectangular, trapeziform, subtrigonal shapes. LV sometimes much elongated in height, always higher than RV, usually moderately inflated, greatest convexity close to umbo. Attachment area commonly restricted to umbonal region, medium-sized in separately growing individuals (Pl. 4.7, 9a; Pl. 11.2, 4a) or large when growing in clusters (Pl. 4.8, Pl. 12.2a). RV (only two specimens known; Pl. 11.1b; Appendix,
Table 5
) relatively small and flat, with subrectangular shape and slightly convex, shell thickness at the ventral margin
3–4 mm
. Observed maximum size
8 cm
(height) (Appendix,
Table 5
).
Sculpture—LV with thick growth lamellae, irregular, imbricating (spaces between squamae filled with sediment, later overgrown by new shell foils); occasionally with few undulating radial ribs; shell surface of folds and depressions, in some cases pustular. Single RV relatively smooth, with few weak commarginal furrows and fine growth lines.
Ligament area—Overall growing ventralwards, ostreoid, with a straight or slightly undulating resilifer, rarely anteriorly directed (Fig. 14.3–4; Pl. 11.2). LV resilifer deep, flanked by equally broad, elevated bourrelets (Fig. 15.2); outer bourrelet flanks dipping steeply towards commissure (
ca.
30–60°) (Pl. 11.4a; Fig. 15.5), confined anteriorly and posteriorly by deep narrow troughs (Fig. 15.2,4; Pl. 11.2). RV resilifer supported by a callous-like shell buttress (sensu
Stenzel 1971
, p. N1029, N973, fig. J14a,b) (Fig. 14.3; Pl. 11.1b)
Internal shell characters—LV commissural shelf, dorsally narrow and bounded by inner lateral ridge; shelf broadening ventrally. Posterior adductor scar subcircular to high-oval, dorsally truncated or weakly concave, scar slightly sunken below general depositional surface; position essentially posterodorsal (
ca.
1/3 sub-posterocentral). (Fig. 14.3–4; Fig. 15.2; Pl. 11.1a,b). PAM insertion in RV with projected ventral border (Pl. 11.1b) (buttressed sensu
Stenzel 1971
, p. N1029). Quenstedt muscle scar not seen. Chomata and relict chomata questionable (Pl. 11.3a,b, 5c,d).
Microstructure—LV with thick regularly to partly complex cross-foliated outer-middle layer; middle-inner layers largely chambered, some (probably originally) hollow (Pl. 12.1a,b), some filled with chalky deposits (mocret); some filled with sediment or diagenetic cement (Pl. 12.2b,c; Pl. 20.2a–d).
Prodissoconch, juvenile—Prodissoconch and early juveniles unknown.
Paleoecology
. At its
type
locality, the species formed aggregates or small buildups (“framestones”) of up to several decimetres thickness intercalated between coral-bearing, calcareous marls and unfossiliferous marls („Zone Astartienne“); the lateral extensions are unknown.
Thurmann & Etallon (1861
, p. 37; 1862, p. 271, pl. 39, fig. 1) found the species together with
Nanogyra nana
(=
Exogyra bruntrutana
Thurmann
), for example, in the “Lumachelle à
Exogyra bruntrutana
et
Ostrea sequana
”. The species is associated with a diverse coral fauna of the „Zone à polypiers“ (
Thurmann & Etallon 1861, p. 37, 62
), crinoids (genus
Apiocrinites
) and terebratulid brachiopods.
FIGURE 15
.
Helvetostrea
n. gen.
sequana
(Thurmann & Etallon, 1862)
.
1
. Lectotype, refigured from Thurmann & Etallon (1862, pl. 39, fig. 1); LV attached on other specimens of the same species, Bressaucourt near Chevenez (Canton Jura), Upper Oxfordian.
2–5
. LV, CTD-SCR003-1237, Sur Combe Ronde (bed 2400), Upper Kimmeridgian,
mutabilis
Zone:
2
, interior;
3
, lateral;
4
, ventral view into the umbonal cavity with cross-sectional shape of ligament area;
5
, posterior side view, with distinct angle (52°) between commissure and ligament area. Scale bars 10 mm.
FIGURE 16
.
Helvetostrea
?
caprina
(Rollier, 1917)
and
H. oxfordiana
(Rollier, 1917)
.
1
. “
Ostrea
”
caprina
, refigured from Rollier (1917, pl. 39, fig. 2), LV, from Gösgen (Aargau), NE Switzerland (Geissberg Member, Late Oxfordian).
2–6
.?
Helvetostrea
n. gen.
caprina
, same specimen as Fig. 16.1, here designated as lectotype, coll. ETHZ, Ve.S. 4563:
2
, LV interior, hinge area poorly drawn in the original figure (compare Fig. 16.1);
3
, LV, lateral;
4
, RV, interior;
5
, RV, lateral; ETH Zürich, photos by Dr. Pika-Biolzi (Zürich), specimen not whitened;
6
. Lectotype, anterolateral (both valves re-articulated), refigured from Rollier (1917, pl. 40, fig. 2b).
7–9
.
Helvetostrea oxfordiana
. Figured bivalved type specimen of
Ostrea oxfordiana
, cf. Rollier 1917, pl. 40, fig. 1a–c, ETHZ Ve.S. 5146, Klein-Kembs (Kleinkems) near Lörrach (Baden- Württemberg), Germany ("Terrain à Chailles", Lower Oxfordian,
Cardioceras cordatum
Zone
:
7
, LV, interior;
8
, LV ventral view;
9
, RV lateral. Scale bars 10 mm.
In the study area, the species occurs as autochthonous element in horizons
2600 and 2900
–3000, and allochthonous in horizons 300 (Banné Marls) (one small juvenile LV, VTT001-1169b, Pl. 11.3; Pl. 14.6), 2400, 2700 (Pl. 11.1d), and 3500 (
Fig. 4
C).
Horizon 2600 is a mostly fine-grained, partially iron-oolitic limestone yielding numerous aggregates of
H. sequana
LVs. Aggregates are reminiscent of ostreoliths described by
Wilson
et al.
(1998)
, with irregularly arranged specimens of different growth stages, growing in all directions which suggests several overturns (Pl. 4.8; Pl. 12.2).
Shell surfaces are covered by serpulids and small LVs of
Nanogyra nana
and
Gastrochaenolites
borings. In one case,
Lithophaga
sp. is preserved in its borehole. The species co-occurs with stenohaline bivalves (
Gervillella
,
Cercomya, Myopholas
,
Anisocardia
) and the echinoid
Pygurus
sp.
Horizon 2900 is a fossiliferous lithoclastic limestone with numerous LVs of
Helvetostrea
; co-occurring fauna includes species of
Trichites
,
Gervillella, Cucullaea, Myopholas, Placunopsis
, rare
Myophorella
(shells replaced by calcite), and recrystallized coral heads up to
20 cm
in size. This accumulation may represent a condensation horizon. It is truncated by a hardground (horizon 3000) penetrated by
Gastrochaenolites
sp. and overgrown by large, strongly abraded specimens of
Circunula cotyledon
.
The autochthonous or parautochthonous occurrences and associated faunas suggest that
Helvetostrea sequana
lived preferentially in shallow, fully marine environments where it formed buildups (
type
locality), small clusters, or ostreoliths.
A similar setting was described by
Wilson
et al.
(1998)
for the American ostreoliths which were formed by
Circunula
?
strigilecula
reaching sizes of up to
50 cm
. They occurred on hardgrounds and oolitic shoals but also in lagoonal facies (Middle Jurassic Carmel Formation, Utah,
USA
).
Fürsich
et al.
(1994)
reported reefoidal frameworks several meters wide and up to
3.5 m
high constructed by
H. expansa
, red algae (
Solenopora
"
portlandica
"), the cyclostome bryozoan
Hyporosopora portlandica
(Gregory), and some cemented
Plicatula damoni
(
Cox, 1925
)
.
Hoffmann & Krobicki (1989)
described a buildup of
2 m
lateral and
0.8 m
vertical extension from the Middle Jurassic of
Poland
constructed by
H. explanata
(Goldfuss)
surrounded by a dysaerobic mudstone facies. The buildup occurs in high energy sediments, deposited as an intercalation during a "regressive" phase, well documented by a shell bed with many clasts (including hiatus-concretions) with borings of
Gastrochaenolites lapidicus
Kelly & Bromley, 1984
and encrusting serpulids at the base of the buildup (
Hoffmann & Krobicki 1989, p. 308
–
309, fig. 3
).
Comparisons.
Species of
Helvetostrea
n. gen.
and morphological similar forms are discussed below in alphabetical order.
"
Ostrea
"
caprina
Rollier, 1917
(pl. 39, fig. 2, and pl. 40, fig. 2a,b; pl. 39, fig. 2 is refigured on Fig. 16.1)—The species was first mentioned by
Moesch (1867: p. 148)
from Gösgen near Olten (Aargau) and found in the "
Perna
" beds of the Geissberg Member (sensu
Gygi 1969
), Upper Oxfordian (
bimammatum
Zone
) of northeastern
Switzerland
. However, Rollier (1917, p. 562) was the first to provide a valid description. The
type
series consisted of one bivalved specimen with both shells isolated and an unknown number of other specimens mentioned in the text from different locations, but only the figured bivalved specimen (ETHZ Ve.S. 4563) of Rollier (1917: pl. 39, fig. 2, pl. 40, fig 2a,b) is still preserved in the collections of the ETH Zürich. It is here chosen as
lectotype
of
Helvetostrea caprina
(Rollier, 1917)
and figured on Fig. 16.1, 2–6.
This species is less inflated than
H. sequana
, more subrectangular and lacks an umbonal cavity. Shell habitus and ligament area of the
lectotype
LV (Fig. 16.1–2) mimic a RV, but the adductor position and presence of an attachment area confirm that it is a LV. The comparison of the original figures of Rollier (1917) with photographs of the
lectotype
reveals a mismatch of the real proportions and hinge morphology (Fig. 16.1–6).
"
Ostrea
"
expansa
J. Sowerby, 1819
(p. 65, pl. 238, fig. 1)—This species was first described from the Tithonian Tisbury Limestone Member of the Portland Stone Formation (
Titanites anguiformis
Zone
) in Wiltshire,
England
. Sowerby’s figured specimen, a silicified RV, was assumed to be lost (
Cox 1929, p. 147
). However,
Spamer & Bogan (1989)
may have found the original or a
syntype
and potential
lectotype
in the Benett-collection at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (
USA
) which is listed as "
Ostrea expansa
J. Sowerby 1819
, pl. 238, top figure [1];
syntype
(?), ANSP 56158 (B.C. 287; Benett's[?] no. 196); Fonthill, Wiltshire". The Fonthill Abbey Wood is situated
3 km
northwest of Tisbury.
Sowerby’s figure is somewhat reminiscent of the flat, broadly crescentic shape of
Deltoideum
(Rollier 1917, p. 566:
Deltoideum expansa
). However, the overall shape is spatulate without a concave posterodorsal margin typical of
Deltoideum
. Furthermore, the shell is thicker and larger, and the PAM more centrally situated. Despite these differences,
Cox (1925, p. 130)
assumed a transition between
Deltoideum delta
(Smith, 1817)
[=
O
. deltoidea
J. Sowerby, 1816
, non Lamarck 1806, =
Ostrea sowerbyana
Bronn, 1836
, replacement name for the former] and
O
. expansa
.
Pugaczewska (1971, p. 269)
,
Fürsich
et al
. (1994)
and
Fürsich & Hautmann (2005)
assigned the species to
Liostrea
. However, the spatulate shell shape and presence of large shell chambers below the ligament area suggest that
O
. expansa
belongs to
Helvetostrea
. The species differs from
H. sequana
by a broader resilifer, slender bourrelets, a larger PAM, a convex RV and a small umbonal cavity (
Fürsich
et al
. 1994
, p. 138, 141, fig. 5).
Remarkable is the distribution of both species in rocks representing shallow marine environments that are overlain by paleosoils with dinosaur track sites of the Lower Purbeck Formation in
England
(
Ensom & Delair 2007
) and, respectively, the Kimmeridgian track-bearing horizons (tidal-flat laminites) of the Reuchenette Formation in
Switzerland
(Marty 2008).
"
Ostrea
"
explanata
Goldfuss, 1833
(b) (p. 22, pl. 80, fig. 5)—This is the oldest species that could be attributed to
Helvetostrea
. Goldfuss described it from a Middle Jurassic Oolite (Bajocian?) of Southern
Germany
(region of Bayreuth and Württemberg,
type
locality not specified). In Europe, it ranges from the Bajocian to the Early Callovian in
England
,
France
and
Poland
(
Hoffmann & Krobicki, 1989
, p. 308;
Pugaczewska, 1971
, p. 245).
The species is usually determined as
Liostrea
(e.g.
Pugaczewska 1971
) coinciding with its ancient synonymization with
Liostrea eduliformis
(
Schlotheim, 1820
)
by
Roemer (1835)
and
Schlippe (1888)
(here considered as a
Pernostrea
). Specimens figured by Goldfuss (1833)(b) show a broad but short ligament area which is also more reminiscent of
Pernostrea
, whereas a right valve figured by
Pugaczewska (1971
, pl. 9, figs. 5a,b) has a remarkably undulated hinge line and ligament similar to
Helvetostrea
. Hence, “
O
.”
explanata
sensu
Pugaczewska (1971)
may belong to
Helvetostrea
. However, it differs from
H. sequana
by its larger size (in height), more rectangular and less inflated shape, and lack of an umbonal cavity (
Hoffmann & Krobicki, 1989, p. 308
).
"
Ostrea
"
oxfordiana
Rollier, 1917
—This rare species was originally described from the "Terrain à Chailles" facies (
Pholadomya
marls, Early Oxfordian,
cordatus
Zone) of Klein-Kembs (Kleinkems) from the "Isteiner Klotz", a prominent ridge some kilometres north of Lörrach (Baden-Württemberg,
Germany
). The figured
holotype
(fixed by monotypy, ICZN 73.1.2.; see also ICZN 73.1.5. which implies that a
holotype
can consist of a set of disarticulated components) consisted of a rather well preserved LV and a corresponding but damaged RV (Rollier 1917, pl. 40, figs. 1a–c, here refigured in Fig. 16.7–9). It belonged to the Casimir Moesch collection held at the ETH in Zürich (Ve. S. 5146, according to Rollier 1917); unfortunately, its current whereabouts is unknown (Pika- Biolzi, pers. comm. 2011).
The species could be a
Helvetostrea
that differs from
H. sequana
by having a more pronounced umbo, possibly due to a smaller attachment area, shorter ligament area, lesser convexity of the LV, more prolonged commissural shelf, and a shallower umbonal cavity.
In contrast,
Liostrea oxfordiana
sensu
Pugaczewska (1971, p. 249, pl. 13, figs. 5
–
9)
from the Lower Kimmeridgian of West Pomerania (
Poland
) as well as
Liostrea quadrangularis
Arkell, 1927
, sensu
Pugaczewska (1971, p. 250, pl. 8, figs. 1–4)
are more likely phenotypes of
Liostrea polymorpha
(Münster in Goldfuss, 1833)(b) (
Pugaczewska 1971, pl. 19, figs. 5
–
8
). All these species differ from
H. sequana
by a markedly opisthogyrate ligament area, and a weakly sickle-shaped
outline
.
"
Ostrea
"
ermontiana
Etallon, 1862
(in
Thurmann & Etallon,
1861
–1864, p. 270, pl. 38, fig. 6)—The species was erected as a substitute for
Ostrea gryphoides
Contejean, 1859
, which is a junior homonym of
Ostrea gryphoides
von Zieten, 1830, and
Ostrea gryphoides
Schlotheim, 1813
. Contejean’s (1859, p. 320, pl. 25, figs. 1–5) material came from the Upper Oxfordian “Calcaires à
Cardium
” and Lower Kimmeridgian “Marnes et Calcaires à ptérocères” of Montbéliard (
France
) (housed at the Musée Cuvier in Montbéliard, MC 27E125 = LV in
Contejean 1859
, pl. 25, figs. 1, 3; MC 27E126 = LV, pl. 25, figs. 2, 4; MC27E127 = LV, pl. 25, fig. 5). However, all specimens are exfoliated internal moulds with few shell remains. Because the specimens are, at face value, indeterminable, and because there is no other material mentioned, the figured LV of
O
. ermontiana
is here considered as
lectotype
. The specimen was found in the "Hypostrombien inférieur" (= Nautilid Beds, Reuchenette Formation, Lower Kimmeridgian) of Fahy near Porrentruy, but neither the
holotype
nor any other material potentially representing this species was found in the Jurassica-Museum (MJSN) Porrentruy. One additional complete and well-preserved specimen, determined as
Ostrea ermontiana
Etallon
, was found in the collection Scheurer (MC-27E122) from the “Calcaire à
Corbis
” (
cymodoce
Zone) at Baume in Audincourt (
France
). It also contains a note by Scheurer that
O
. gryphoides
is
O
. ermontiana
.
The figured
lectotype
in Thurmann &
Etallon (1862)
is a small LV gryphaeoid shell (L
5.5 cm
, H
3.5 cm
) with an orthogyrate ligament area, which appears as drawing similar to
H. sequana
. After comparison of the available material an assignment of
O
. ermontiana
to
Helvetostrea
can be excluded and the species can certainly be assigned to
Gryphaea
(
Bilobissa
)
.
Differences to
H. sequana
are the presence of a deep radial posterior sulcus (Thurmann &
Etallon 1862
, pl. 38, fig. 6, posterior view), which is characteristic of
Bilobissa
, the thin and not chambered shell, the nearly smooth LV and a RV with antimarginal threads (preserved on specimen MC-27E122). The relationship of
Gryphaea
(
Bilobissa
)
ermontiana
(Etallon in Thurmann &
Etallon, 1862
) to
Gryphaea
(
B.
)
dilatata
(J. Sowerby, 1816)
has not been investigated, but the occurrence of this species in the Early Kimmeridgian (
cymodoce
Zones) of the Reuchenette Formation in
Switzerland
and nearby
France
represents one of the last records of
Gryphaea
in Europe, beside its record from
Poland
(
Pugaczewska 1971, p. 277
).
“
Crassostrea
”
tetoriensis
Komatsu
et al.
, 2002
—This oyster is only known from the Middle Jurassic of
Japan
(Bathonian, Ushimaru Formation, Tetori Group) (see
Fujita 2003
, fig. 2, for stratigraphy). Like
Helvetostrea
species, “
C
.”
tetoriensis
Komatsu
et al.
2002
, p. 1043, figs. 3, 5–7 developed numerous chambers in the LV, a deep umbonal cavity, an elongated ligament area, lack of chomata, and inequivalve shells without radial ornament. It also occurs below non-marine deposits with dinosaur bones and tracks (compare paleoecology of
H. sequana
). The species differs from
Helvetostrea sequana
by its very high, elongate-spatulate
outline
(
C. tetoriensis
: H/L ratio 2.9–3.7;
H. sequana
H/L 1.23–1.86), thin, mainly simple compact foliated shells with small chambers, usually filled with chalky deposits, a small reniform PAM not supported by a ventral shell swelling (buttress), narrow bourrelets and tiny attachment area (
Komatsu
et al.
2002
, p. 1043). In addition, the species was most probably adapted to euryhaline, muddy, intertidal, soft bottom environments.
“
Ostrea
”
hebridica
(
Forbes, 1851
)
—
The species was originally described from the upper part of the Middle Jurassic (Bathonian) “Great Estuarine Series” of Loch Staffin, Isle of Skye, Inner
Hebrides
of
Scotland
(
Arkell 1934, p. 11–12
).
Most of the previous authors, including
Hudson & Palmer (1976, p. 87)
, accepted a close relationship between “
O
.”
hebridica
and
Praeexogyra acuminata
. However, “
O
.”
hebridica
is extensively chambered and euryhaline (
Hudson & Palmer 1976
) whereas
P. acuminata
is an essentially compact foliated (
Siewert, 1972
) euhaline species, co-occurring with ammonites in
England
as well as in
Switzerland
(
Arkell 1934; own data from the “
Acuminata
Beds” of the Hauptrogenstein Formation,
Germany
and
Switzerland
).
Shell chambering and euryhaline preference may indicate a closer, perhaps congeneric relationship with “
C.
”
tetoriensis
. Shell chambering could also indicate a link to
Helvetostrea
. However, the species differs from all
Helvetostrea
species by its more ventrally positioned, crescentic to reniform PAM without ventral shell buttress, with a pointed umbo, usually tiny attachment area, short ligament area, generally slender
outline
, curved posterodorsal margin, and antimarginal riblets and furrows, especially the early ontogenetic ribbed “
Catinula
” stage (
Arkell 1934
;
Hudson & Palmer 1976
). In addition, all
Helvetostrea
species are euhaline.