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NUCULANIDAE |
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Ledella inopinata (E.A. Smith, 1885) Description: Shape: equivalve, ineqilateral, drawn out posteriorly, with ridge from umbo to posterior edge. Umbones central. Anterior end broadly rounded, anterior dorsal margin rounded. Posterior dorsal margin rounded, posterior ventral margin concave. Umbones projecting well above hinge line. Hinge taxodont, with up to 11 teeth on anterior side, similar number on posterior side. Interior smooth, muscle scars sometimes defined. Exterior with irregular concentric growth ridges crossed by regular radial riblets. Periostracum thin, fawn. Exterior shell colour white, shell initially translucent, but becoming opaque with age. Size: Up to 6.5 mm in length (the size of 3.75 mm given by Lamprell & Healy (1998) is apparently the length of the holotype). Distribution: Endemic to Australia: known from Newcastle, NSW, southwards to Nowra, NSW. Habitat: Dredged in 322-1463 m. Moderately common. Comparison: The radial shell sculpture readily identifies this species. Fig. 1: South-east of Ulladulla, NSW, in 1052-1061m (C.370044) |
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