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PECTINIDAE |
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Pseudamussium challengeri (E. A. Smith, 1891) Description: Shell lightweight. Shape nearly circular plus very inequal auricles, slightly prosocline. Byssal notch below auricle of right valve. Both valves only moderately inflated. Exterior of both valves sculptured with about 10 unevenly spaced scaly radial ribs, increasing by division to about 20 on left valve and 30 on right valve. Auricles with scaly ribs. Interior with exterior sculpture showing through, white or tan. Hinge line long, straight, with several elongate teeth. Shell colour banded cream to brown. Size: Up to 27 mm in height. Distribution: Australia and New Zealand. In Australia, from east of Cape Three Points, central NSW, southwards to south-western WA. Habitat: Known from 274-1000 m depth. Comparison: This species is similar in size and habitat to Veprichlamys perillustris but is closer to circular than that species. The radial ribs are regularly spaced in V. perillustris but irregular and bifurcating in P. challengeri. Synonymy: This has been known as Veprichlamys challengeri (E.A. Smith, 1891) and Chlamys (Chlamys) challengeri (E.A. Smith, 1891). Fig. 1: Trawled in about 350 fathoms (640 m) off Wollongong, NSW (DLB4719)
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