Genus Bretskya n. gen.

TYPE SPECIES. — Bretskya scapula n. sp. (here designated).

ETYMOLOGY. — Named for Sara Bretsky in recognition of her contribution to lucinid systematics.

DIAGNOSIS. — Shells small, thin, elongate, umbones posterior and prominent, outline irregularly ovoid, posterior margin truncate to sinuate. Sculpture of thin, low, irregularly spaced, commarginal lamellae and growth increments, shell surface often distorted. Ligament large, inset on elongate resilifer. Hinge with two small cardinal teeth in left valve and one in right valve. Anterior adductor scar short, detached from pallial line for about 1/3 of length. Interior margin smooth.

REMARKS

Bretskya n. gen. differs from all other described lucinids by its extremely anteriorly extended shell, with prominent, posteriorly located umbones and a deep resilifer. Some Megaxinus and Rasta species have similarly crumpled, exterior shell surfaces (Glover & Taylor 1997).