Tucetona kauaia ( Dall, Bartsch & Rehder, 1938 )

Raines, Bret & Huber, Markus, 2012, 3217, Zootaxa 3217, pp. 1-106 : 21-22

Tucetona kauaia ( Dall, Bartsch & Rehder, 1938)

Figures 9 A–E

Glycymeris kauaia Dall et al., 1938: p. 40 , pl. 7, figs. 2–3.

Glycymeris — Luke, 1995: p. 106.

Glycymeris sp — Trego, 1997: p. 199.

Tucetona kauaia ( Dall et al., 1938) — Severns, 2011: p. 434, pl. 198, fig. 5.

Material examined. Two valves from the SIO Benthic Collection, M1444, RV, 28.8 mm x 29.5 mm, LV, 24.9 mm x 25 mm.

Diagnosis. Shell small to medium (up to 30 mm in height), irregular ovate, inequilateral and stout. Umbones well elevated. Exterior surface of 22–29 flattened-top radiating ribs crossed by commarginal lamellae. Internal ventral margin fluted. Hinge consisting of up to 12 teeth both posteriorly and anteriorly separated under the umbones. Color white with a reddish brown wash.

Remarks. There are no species of Glycymeris known from the Hawaiian Islands or EI, only species of Tucetona ; nor have any glycymeridid been recorded from the Marquesas Islands. Although T. kauaia was described from a single valve with 29 ribs, fewer ribbed Hawaiian specimens have been studied. A genetic comparison would definitely be useful here to provide a more solid basis for the identification.

Habitat. Trawled from 40–100 m, La Perouse Bay, Easter Island, 1957/58 Downwind Expedition (DWHD- 76).

Distribution. Tucetona kauaia is only known from the Hawaiian Islands and Easter Island— E2.