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ANOMIIDAE |
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Monia zelandica (J.E. Gray, 1843) Description: Shape irregular, approximately circular or ovate, distorted to conform to substrate, lower (right) valve often flat, upper (left) valve more convex. Lower valve with large byssal hole opening at dorsal edge. Exterior of upper valve irregularly crumpled, with weak radial ribs towards ventral margin; lower valve smoother. Interior of valves smooth; left valve with a large muscle attachment zone centrally towards dorsal margin, containing 2 muscle scars - one large plus one small. Hinge without teeth. Shell colour white externally, green internally. Size: Up to 65 mm in height. Distribution: Australia and New Zealand. In Australia, from Fraser Island, Qld, southwards and around southern Australia, to south of Geraldton, WA, including Tas. Habitat: On exposed and semi-exposed rocky shores, intertidal and below. Moderately common. Comparison: This is much less common than A. trigonopsis in NSW. In Monia zelandica the external sculpture is weaker, the external colour is dirty white, and the muscle attachment zone internally in the left valve is dark rather than white. Synonymy: Placunanomia ione J.E. Gray, 1850 is a previously recognised synonym. In the Australian literature this species has been known as Monia ione (J.E. Gray, 1850). Fig. 1: Long Reef, Collaroy, NSW (C.356824) |
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