Semele australis (G.B. Sowerby I, 1832 )

Raines, Bret & Huber, Markus, 2012, 3217, Zootaxa 3217, pp. 1-106 : 81

Semele australis (G.B. Sowerby I, 1832)

Figures 41 A–C

Amphidesma australe G.B. Sowerby I, 1832: p. 200 .

Semele tita Dall et al., 1938: p. 177 , pl. 45, figs. 1–4.

Semele australis (G.B. Sowerby I, 1832) — Kay, 1979: p. 566, figs. 183 M–N; Rehder, 1980: p. 112, pl. 14, figs. 5–6; Preece, 1995: p. 351; Tröndlé & Boutet, 2009: p. 9; Huber, 2010: p. 340, figs. 8–10; Severns, 2011: p. 476, pl. 218, fig. 2.

Material examined. Over two hundred articulated specimens and single valves from EI and SyG ( BK), plus specimens from the Hawaiian Islands ( MHU), Marquesas Islands ( MHU), Okinawa ( BK), Pitcairn Island ( BK) and from the Indian Ocean ( MHU).

Diagnosis. Shell small for the genus, subcircular, stout, equivalve and equilateral. Umbones elevated. Surface sculpture consisting of strong commarginal lamellae. Hinge short and strong with two divergent cardinals in each valve, as well as anterior and posterior laterals. Very broad, but comparatively short ascending pallial sinus. Color white to pale yellow.

Remarks. The EI specimens are just short of the maximum size of 28 mm reported from Australia, and conform precisely to numerous specimens studied from the Mascarenes to Japan, including the Marquesas Islands and the Hawaiian Islands.

Habitat. Commonly found at many locations around EI and SyG, in sand and rubble, from 10–50 m.

Distribution. Semele australis is known throughout the Indo-Pacific, ranging from the Mauritius Islands, Japan, Marshall Islands, Australia, Marquesas Islands, Tuamotu Archipelago, Gambier Islands, Austral Islands, Society Islands, Loyalty Islands, Cook Islands, Pitcairn Islands, and the Hawaiian Islands, as well as Easter and Salas y Gómez Islands. However, it has not been recorded from New Zealand or the Kermadec Islands— E5.