Cadella mauia Dall, Bartsch & Rehder, 1938

Raines, Bret & Huber, Markus, 2012, 3217, Zootaxa 3217, pp. 1-106 : 72-74

Cadella mauia Dall, Bartsch & Rehder, 1938

Figures 37 A–H

Cadella mauia Dall et al., 1938: p. 197 . pl. 50, figs. 1–4.

Cadella mauia Dall et al., 1938 — Rehder, 1980: p. 113, pl. 12, fig. 16–17; Raines, 2002: p. 36, fig. 44.

Material examined. Over one hundred live specimens and single valves (2.7–8.2 mm) (BK).

Original description. “Shell small, elongate-ovate, pale yellowish white with spots and blotches in the substance of shell that give it a watered silk effect, with a tinge of red posterior to the umbo. The umbones are situated at the anterior end of the posterior fourth of the length of the shell. The dorsal edge is slightly curved posterior to the umbo; anterior to it, it is slightly concave and then it suddenly rounds toward the ventral margin. The anterior margin forms almost a semicircle and the ventral margin is moderately evenly curved. Prodissoconch small, subglobular, the portion following it marked by slender lines of growth. The adult shell is marked by numerous, closely spaced, radiating threads which are only a trifle stronger on the posterior end than on the rest of the shell. These threads are separated by narrow impressed lines. The interior is white with a reddish tinge posterior to the umbo. The external ligament is rather short and situated on a broadly lanceolate escutcheon. The anterior cardinal is stout and triangular. The posterior cardinal is short and rather thin. The laterals are fused with the margin. The pallial sinus is rather large and broad, its basal margin being fused with the pallial line.” ( Dall et al. 1938: 197.)

Remarks. Kay (1979: 561) erroneously synonymized this species to Cadella oahuana Dall, Bartsch & Rehder, 1938 . However, Cadella oahuana has a rougher sculpture, is more ovate-triangular in shape, and has a stouter hinge construction as illustrated in Severns (2011: p. 478, pl. 219, fig. 1). And although Cadella mauia specimens from EI tend to be even more colorful than those from the Hawaiian Islands, the material conforms well to the original description, confirmed by A. Langleit, (pers. comm., 2010).

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

Distribution. Cadella mauia is known from the Hawaiian Islands, Easter and Salas y Gómez Islands, and has been collected from the Marquesas Islands as well. However, it is not known from New Zealand or the Kermadec Islands— E5.