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DENTALIIDAE |
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Fissidentalium verconis Cotton & Ludbrook, 1938 Description: Shape large, slightly curved towards apex. Weight solid. Aperture diameter up to 6 mm. Apex diameter 1.35 mm. Sculpture of about 17 longitudinal ribs at apex, increasing to about 20 at aperture. Transverse sculpture of regular, fine, oblique growth lines. Aperture circular. Colour white (Figured specimen discoloured). Size: Up to 65 mm in length. Distribution: Global distribution unknown. Assumed to be endemic to Australia with a distribution from central NSW to southern WA. Habitat: Dredged in coarse sand from 150 to 1210 m (Lamprell & Healy, 1998). Uncommon in NSW. Comparison: Fissidentalium verconis is distinguished from F. ponderi by having fewer longitudinal ribs – up to 20 in F. verconis, compared to up to 32 in F. ponderi. Remarks: Lamprell & Healy (1998) gave the maximum length of this species as 47 mm, but specimens acquired by the Australian Museum from southern NSW subsequent to their publication are 65 mm in length. This makes use of comparative shell length to distinguish F. verconis from F. ponderi less useful. Fig. 1: Off Eden-Gabo Island, 371–402 m (C.379316). |
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