Ten new species of Cardiidae (Mollusca, Bivalvia) from New Caledonia and the tropical western Pacific Author Vidal, Jacques Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Département Systématique et Évolution, case postale 51, 57 rue Cuvier, F- 75231 Paris cedex 05 (France) Deceased 2006 Author Kirkendale, Lisa Florida Museum of Natural History, Department of Malacology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611 - 7800 (USA) fragum 4 ever @ yahoo. com ever@yahoo.com text Zoosystema 2007 29 1 83 107 journal article 10.5281/zenodo.5401696 1638-9387 5401696 Pseudofulvia caledonica n. sp. ( Fig. 4 A-C; Table 4 ) TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype : cv, 13.4 × 12.1 × 8.2 mm . Paratypes (3): rv, 12.0 × 10.9 × (7.8) mm; rv, 9.6 × 8.6 × 6.4 mm ; cv, 10.0 × 9.7 × 7.0 mm. TYPE LOCALITY. — Expédition MONTROUZIER 1993, New Caledonia , Passe de Koumac, eastern slope, stn 1311, 20°40.4’S , 164°14.9’E , 10-60 m , hard bottom (first two paratypes come from type locality). ETYMOLOGY. — After New Caledonia , where it was first discovered in relatively large numbers. MATERIAL EXAMINED. — New Caledonia . Expédition MONTROUZIER 1993, Passe de Koumac, stn 1311, 20°40.4’S , 164°14.9’E , 10-60 m , hard bottom, 3 small cv live collected. — Passe de Koumac, stn 1323, 20°40.9’S , 164°14.8’E , 82-120 m , shelly muddy sand, 1 rv. — Grand Récif de Koumac, stn 1331, external slope, 20°40’S , 164°11.2’E , 55-57 m , 2 rv. Atelier LIFOU 2000, Baie du Santal, Cap Aimé Martin, stn 1442, 20°46.4’S , 167°02.0’E , 47 m , on bottom of wall, 1 cv (third paratype ). — Baie du Santal, off Peng, stn 1443, 20°53.8’S , 167°07.3’E , 48-52 m , 2 rv. Fiji . MUSORSTOM 10, S of Viti Levu, stn DW 1384, 18°18.5’S , 178°05.8’E , 260-305 m , 1 rv. — Stn DW 1388, 18°18.5’S , 178°01.8’E , 313-446 m , 1 rv. Philippines . PANGLAO 2004, Panglao Island, Napaling, stn S28, 24.VI.2004 , 9°37.2’N , 123°46.4’E , 28-32 m , reef wall with small caves, 1 valve. — Bohol Island, Ubajan, stn S26, 23.VI.2004 , 9°41.5’N , 123°51.0’E , 21 m , mud, 1 cv. — Balicasag Island, stn B37, 2.VII.2004 , 9°30.9’N , 123°40.8’E , 19-20 m , floor of cave A with corals and sponges, 1 cv. DISTRIBUTION. — Known from the northern part of New Caledonia , Loyalty Islands , the Philippines and Fiji . DESCRIPTION Shell small (maximum size: 13.4 × 12.1 × 8.2 mm ), inequilateral with posterior region longer and slightly more oblique than anterior. Posterior slope flat and forming a rounded angle with the median area; middle of posterior margin straight. Lunular area medium size and well-differentiated, flattened, two sides equal. Lunular heart small and triangular; sublunule very developed, prism-shaped, almost touching umbos and with numerous small pustules. External coloration of brown stains resembling fish scales in shape on approximately 4 or 5 large ribs of the posterior slope, on the most posterior of the posterior slope ribs, on the umbo and on the lunular area. Interior white and translucent, with external markings showing through to shell interior. Lunular area yellow. Cardinals unconnected in right valve, connected in left valve. Laterals approximately equidistant from cardinals. Approximately 43 ribs, with 12 or 13 large ribs on the posterior slope ( PT 1 and PT 2) and approximately 30 small ribs on median and anterior shell regions; these latter ribs are very smooth and thus difficult to discern and count. On the posterior slope and keel ( PT 1 and PT 2), ribs large, wide, roundly triangular and asymmetrical in shape. Interstices triangular and of same width as ribs; thin periostracal insertions on top of ribs; on the most posterior ribs these insertions bear successive calcareous tubercles. Ribs very thin and weak on the median anterior quarter, hardly visible externally, more obvious from the interior reflected in the internal serrations of the ventral margin and visible through the relatively transparent shell. Anterior quarter of shell with smooth lunular, sublunular and medio-posterior regions and with a non-serrated shell margin. Entire exterior shell surface with numerous small pustules, most abundant on the anterior shell region. MICROHABITAT Although shells were recovered from depths of 10-446 m , live-collected specimens were found only in muddy sediments, often associated with small caves from 19-21 m in the Philippines . REMARKS This taxon shares three characters with the genus Fulvia : 1) stronger ribs on the posterior slope compared with the median and anterior shell regions; 2) the presence of a significant and punctuated sublunule; and 3) possession of granulations on the exterior shell surface. It is also similar to species in the subgenus F . ( Fulvia ) due to the presence of periostracal insertions. However, unlike most other Fulvia studied thus far, Pseudofulvia caledonica n. sp. has a “fragiform” outline, with a relatively pronounced keel or carina, very thin ribs in the median and anterior shell regions, posterior ribs and interstices very strong and triangular, periostracal insertions limited to specific shell regions (including the apex of posterior ribs) and the absence of ocular organs on siphonal tentacles.