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NUCULANIDAE |
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Ledella pala (Hedley, 1907) Description: Shape equivalve, inequilateral, drawn out posteriorly. Umbo in front of midline. Anterior end broadly rounded, anterior dorsal margin rounded. Posterior end broadly rounded, posterior dorsal margin almost straight, posterior ventral margin evenly rounded. Umbones projecting well above hinge line. Hinge taxodont, with 8 teeth on the anterior side, 12 on posterior side. Chondrophore small, central. Interior smooth, muscle scars indistinct. Exterior with broad growth ridges, stronger anteriorly. Periostracum thin, flaky, yellow. Exterior shell colour white, initially translucent, but becoming opaque with age. Size: Up to 6 mm in length. Distribution: Known from off Newcastle, NSW, southwards to Batemans Bay, NSW. Habitat: Dredged in 457–1463 m. Uncommon. Comparison: This species differs from Ledella miliacea by having the posterior end drawn out and the umbones well in front of the midline. Also see Nuculana sp. Fig. 1: Off Wollongong, NSW in 1200 m (C.162490)
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