Aulacomya atra (Molina, 1782)

Rosenfeld, Sebastian, Aldea, Cristian, Mansilla, Andres, Marambio, Johanna & Ojeda, Jaime, 2015, Richness, systematics, and distribution of molluscs associated with the macroalga Gigartina skottsbergii in the Strait of Magellan, Chile: A biogeographic affinity study, ZooKeys 519, pp. 49-100 : 71

Aulacomya atra (Molina, 1782) Fig. 7A

Material examined.

3 spm (8 × 4 - 14 × 7 mm).

Synonymy.

See Reid and Osorio (2000).

Remarks.

Reid and Osorio (2000) noted that this species is easily distinguishable from the other species of mytilids that exist on the Chilean coast, given its radial ribs on valves. However, specimens less than 40 mm could be confused with Perumytilus purpuratus (Lamark, 1819). But at that size, Aulacomya atra presents a yellowish or ruddy color, while Perumytilus purpuratus has a black periostracum and double the radial ribs ( Reid and Osorio 2000).

Distribution.

WTSP: Callao in Perú ( Dall 1909, Soot-Ryen 1955), Iquique ( Marincovich 1973), Antofagasta ( Guzman et al. 1998), Coquimbo ( Húpe 1854, Carcelles 1950), from Punta Pingueral to Mocha Island ( Aldea and Valdovinos 2005), and Valdivia ( Zagal and Hermosilla 2001). Magellanic: Coldita Channel ( Cárdenas et al. 2008), Estero Elefantes ( Reid and Osorio 2000), Puerto Edén ( Dell 1971), Levinson Island ( Dell 1971), and Piazzi Island ( Dell 1971); Strait of Magellan ( Húpe 1854, Rochebrune and Mabille 1889, USNM 2010): eastern micro-basin of the Strait of Magellan ( Ríos et al. 2003), Laredo Bay ( Mutschke et al. 1998), Punta Santa María (this record), Inútil Bay ( USNM 2010), Punta Santa Ana ( Ríos et al. 2007; this record), Cape Froward ( USNM 2010), Dawson Island ( USNM 2010), Carlos III Island ( Aldea et al. 2011a), and Desolación Island ( USNM 2010); Beagle Channel ( Pelseneer 1903), Puerto Williams ( Dell 1971), Róbalo Bay ( Dell 1971, Ojeda et al. 2010), Puerto Toro ( Pelseneer 1903), Hermite Islands ( Dell 1971), Bertrand Island ( Dell 1971), and Orange Bay ( Rochebrune and Mabille 1889, Lamy 1906a); San José Gulf ( Zaixo 2004), Cape Penas ( USNM 2010), San Sebastián Bay ( USNM 2010), Malvinas/Falkland Islands ( Húpe 1854, Melvill and Standen 1907, Dell 1964, USNM 2010), and Staten Island ( USNM 2010). WTSA: southern Brazil ( Soot-Ryen 1955), Uruguay ( Scarabino 2003b), and Puerto Quequén ( Carcelles 1944). SO: Scotia Sea ( USNM 2010), and Kerguelen Islands ( Lamy 1906a, Carcelles 1950, Troncoso et al. 2001). Other sites: South Africa ( Huber 2013), and New Zealand. Northern Hemisphere: North Sea ( Huber 2013).