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LUCINIDAE |
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Ctena bella (Conrad, 1837) Description: A medium-sized, thick-shelled lucinid. Shape almost circular, moderately inflated, umbo on midline, lunule shallow. Exterior with commarginal ridges crossed by wide, low, multiplying radial ribs forming rectangular beads at intersections. Interior smooth, posterior muscle scar oval, anterior long and narrow; margin weakly dentate or smooth; pallial line not interrupted. Hinge (Fig. 2) with left valve with 2 cardinal teeth, 2 posterior and 2 anterior lateral teeth; right valve with 2 cardinals, and single anterior and posterior laterals. Ligament moderately short, internal. Shell white or fawn. Size: Up to 33 mm in length. Distribution: Indo-West Pacific. In eastern Australia, as far south as Sydney, NSW. Habitat: Occurs in shallow sandy and seagrass habitats. Often abundant in coral reef lagoons in the tropics. Comparison: See C. tatei for comparison with that species. Ctena bella is similar to E. consettiana but differs by being almost circular and having radial ribs that increase in number by new ribs developing between the existing ones (arrowed in Fig. 1). Synonymy: Epicodakia gunnamatta Iredale, 1930 (NEW SYNONYM) is a typical specimen of this species. It is from Gunnamatta Bay, Sydney, at the southern end of the range. Fig. 1: Port Jackson, Sydney (C.120459) Fig. 2: Port Jackson, Sydney (C.120459) |
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