Amygdalum peasei ( Newcomb, 1870 )

Raines, Bret & Huber, Markus, 2012, 3217, Zootaxa 3217, pp. 1-106 : 15

Amygdalum peasei ( Newcomb, 1870)

Figures 6 A–C

Modiola peasei Newcomb, 1870: p. 163 , pl. 17, fig. 2.

Volsella (Amygdalum) peasei ( Newcomb, 1870) — Dall et al., 1938: p. 45, pl. 8, figs. 11–14.

Amygdalum plumeum Kuroda & Habe in Kuroda et al., 1971: p. 533, pl. 73, fig. 17.

Amygdalum peasei ( Newcomb, 1870) — Kay, 1979: p. 509, figs. 164 C–D; Okutani, 2000: p. 875, pl. 435, fig. 68; Raines, 2002: p. 31, fig. 34; Tröndlé & Boutet, 2009: p. 4; Huber, 2010: p. 127, fig. 6; Severns, 2011: p. 436, pl. 199, fig. 3.

Material examined. Four live taken specimens (8.3 to 16.2 mm) and nearly two dozen fragments from EI ( BK), plus specimens from the Hawaiian Islands ( MHU) and Marquesas Islands ( MHU).

Diagnosis. Shell small (up to 16 mm in length) elongate, moderately inflated, thin and fragile. Umbones low, hyaline. Prodissoconch, P 1 not visible, P2 round, smooth, yellow to brown coloration, ca. 1.1 mm length and 900 µm height. Nepioconch elongate, smooth, translucent white, ca. 3.2 mm length and 4 mm height. Exterior surface of adult valves smooth to polished. Interior pearly, margins gaping. Hinge simple and weak. Color ivory white with reddish brown streaks and speckles posteriorly .

Remarks. The genus Amygdalum was tentatively placed in the subfamily Bathymodiolinae by Huber (2010: 542). However, until genetic information becomes available, we have kept it here in its more recognized subfamily Modiolinae . The EI specimens conform well to the Hawaiian and Marquesas material, though their size is well below the maximum of 38 mm (Hawaii).

Habitat. Occasionally found at several locations around EI, in sand, from 20–50 m.

Distribution. Amygdalum peasei was originally described from the Hawaiian Islands, but is also known from the Philippines, Society Islands, Marquesas Islands, Japan and Easter Island— E5.