Laevichlamys squamosa ( Gmelin, 1791 )

Raines, Bret & Huber, Markus, 2012, 3217, Zootaxa 3217, pp. 1-106 : 36

Laevichlamys squamosa ( Gmelin, 1791)

Figures 16 J–K

Ostrea squamosa Gmelin, 1791: p. 3319 .

Laevichlamys squamosa ( Gmelin, 1791) — Raines, 2002: p. 33, fig. 38; Raines & Poppe, 2006: p. 208, pls. 151–152; Tröndlé & Boutet, 2009: p. 6; Huber, 2010: p. 208.

Material examined. Several single valves from EI (BK), plus specimens from Australia (BK), Fiji (BK), Marquesas Islands ( MHU), Okinawa (BK) and the Philippines ( MHU).

Diagnosis. Shell small, thin and flattish; RV only slightly convex, with as much as 20 low, narrow ribs and finely scaled; LV flattened with 12–15 low, narrow ribs which are coarsely scaled. Scales are often partly worn away. Auricles unequal. Color extremely variable from brownish black, white, purple, red, orange, yellow with white zigzag pattern or speckles.

Remarks. Since the first report of this species from EI by Raines (2002), only two other valves have been collected. Although adults will typically reach 40–50 mm in height, the largest found at EI has only been 25 mm.

Habitat. Occasionally found at many locations around EI, in sand, from 30–80 m.

Distribution. Laevichlamys squamosa is found throughout the Indo-Pacific region to include eastern Africa, Japan, Philippines, Australia, Marquesas Islands, Society Islands and Easter Island. However, it is not known from the Hawaiian Islands, New Zealand and the Kermadec Islands— E4.