Ptilomyax, Oliver, 2012

Oliver, P. Graham, 2012, Taxonomy of some Galeommatoidea (Mollusca, Bivalvia) associated with deep-sea echinoids: A reassessment of the bivalve genera Axinodon Verrill & Bush, 1898 and Kelliola Dall, 1899 with descriptions of new genera Syssitomya gen. nov. and Ptilomyax gen. nov., European Journal of Taxonomy 12, pp. 1-24 : 18

Genus Ptilomyax gen. nov.

Type species

Ptilomyax hadalis sp. nov. (here designated).

Diagnosis

Very small, juvenile shell equivalve, subovate, slightly expanded anteriorly. Adult shell inequivalve dorsal margin of left valve elevated and rolled over, lateral dorsal margins extended, alate. Ligament small, posterior, deeply sunken; dorsal margin with thickened periostracal “ligament”. Hinge plate not examined. Sculpture almost smooth with faint commarginal lines. Ctenidium of single reflected demibranchs; byssus of multiple strands; pedal aperture large, exhalant aperture small.

Etymology

Ptilomyax , from the Greek, ptilo — winged and myax — a small clam (gender masculine).