Aequipecten Fischer, 1886

Dijkstra, H. H. & Kilburn, R. N., 2001, The family Pectinidae in South Africa and Mozambique (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Pectinoidea), African Invertebrates 42, pp. 263-321 : 307

Genus Aequipecten Fischer, 1886

Aequipecten Fischer, 1886: 944 (proposed as a section of Chlamys ). Type species (M): Ostrea opercularis Linnaeus, 1758 ; Recent, E Atlantic.

Aequipecten (Perapecten) Wagner, 1985: 84 . Type species (OD): Pecten commutatus Monterosato, 1875 [= n.n. for Pecten philippii Récluz, 1853 (non Pecten philippii Michelotti, 1839 )]; Recent, NE Atlantic and Mediterranean. Syn. n.

Lindapecten Petuch, 1995: 40 . Type species (OD): Pecten muscosus Wood, 1828 ; (sub)tropical W Atlantic. Syn. n.

Remarks: Wagner (1985) introduced Perapecten as a subgenus of Aequipecten , but subsequently (1991: 42) raised it to generic status. However, morphological characters (notably macro- and microsculpture, and auricular crura) are similar to those of Aequipecten . Petuch (1995: 40) considered that Perapecten differed from Aequipecten mainly in having more erect spines on the radial costae. This is a very variable character, which can be observed within various species of Chlamys and Mimachlamys . Furthermore we believe that all significant morphological characters in Lindapecten and Aequipecten are identical.

Representative Recent species of Aequipecten are: A. commutatus ( Monterosato, 1875) from the (sub)tropical E Atlantic, A. exasperatus (G. B. Sowerby 2nd, 1842) from the Caribbean region; A. flabellum ( Gmelin, 1791) from the tropical E Atlantic; A. glyptus ( Verrill, 1882) from the (sub)tropical W Atlantic; A. muscosus ( Wood, 1828) from the (sub)tropical W Atlantic; A. opercularis ( Linnaeus, 1758) from the boreal to subtropical E Atlantic, and A. tehuelchus (d’Orbigny, 1847) from the (sub)tropical SW Atlantic.