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CONDYLOCARDIIDAE |
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Condylocardia limaeformis Cotton, 1930 Description: Shell minute. Prodissoconch smooth, separated by a weak ridge from adult shell. Shape slightly inequilateral, narrowly triangular. Apical angle about 70 degrees, anterior and posterior dorsal margins straight; ventral margin smoothly rounded. Exterior with 9-12 strong radial ribs crossed by fine commarginal growth lines. Interior smooth apart from muscle scars, margin coarsely but weakly crenulate. Hinge strong, of condylocardiid style. Ligament internal. Shell translucent to opaque white. Size: Up to 1.43 mm in length. Distribution: Central NSW, southwards and around southern Australia, to southwestern WA, including Tas. Habitat: Known from intertidal to 146 m depth. Known only from empty shells, most commonly sorted from beach washup. There are 43 lots in the AMS collection, indicating the species is fairly common. Comparison: Within the genus Condylocardia, C. limaeformis is the most triangularly elongate species, with broad radial ribs and narrow interstices. Condylocardia notoaustralia, although variable in shape, has the apex near the midline. Condylocardia pectinata has the apex well to the posterior of the midline. Synonymy: Synonyms are Condylocardia adelaideana Cotton & Godfrey, 1938 from South Australia and Condylocardia kunopia Laseron, 1953 from Sydney, NSW. Fig. 1: Cronulla, NSW (C.379934). SEM images by Peter Middelfart, Australian Museum |
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