Chama asperella Lamarck, 1819

Raines, Bret & Huber, Markus, 2012, 3217, Zootaxa 3217, pp. 1-106 : 64-66

Chama asperella Lamarck, 1819

Figures 33 A–E

Chama asperella Lamarck, 1819: p. 95 .

Chama asperella Lamarck, 1819 — Lamprell & Whitehead, 1992: pl. 25, fig. 155; Preece, 1995: p. 350; Tröndlé & Boutet, 2009: p. 7; Huber, 2010: p. 281, figs. 5–7.

Chama cf. broderipii (Reeve) — DiSalvo et al., 1988: p. 459.

Material examined. Over fifty single valves (up to 10 mm in length) (BK), and the ‘ Chama cf. broderipii ’ specimen of DiSalvo et al. (1988) (BK).

Diagnosis. Shell rather small, elongate to ovate, not fragile. The LV is the lower attached valve. Specimens are usually dextral with the umbo pointing anteriorward, but occasionally sinistral with the umbo pointing posteriorward. Valves vary significantly in convexity, with lower LV even cupped. Exterior surface with close-set commarginal lamellae, as well as very numerous, pronounced, short spines. Interior margin with fine crenulations. Color usually white with reddish radial rays .

Remarks. While the specimens at EI and SyG are small, they conform well to the conservative colors, numerous short spines and finely crenulated margins of the widely distributed C. asperella . The Chama cf. broderipii specimen ( Fig. 33 A) recorded by DiSalvo et al. (1988) is a small, but very characteristic C. asperella .

Habitat. Commonly found at many locations around EI and SyG, in sand and rubble, from 10–150 m. Distribution. Chama asperella is widely distributed from the Mediterranean (immigrated) to Midway Island , including the Society Islands , Austral Islands . Pitcairn Islands, and now Easter and Salas y Gómez Islands — E5 .