Spondylus eastae Lamprell, 1992
LAMPRELL, K. L. 1992. Notes on Spondylus Linnaeus with descriptions of two new species from Western Australia (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Spondylidae). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, 32 (1): 189-194, figs. 1, 2. [p. 190, figs. 2a-2d]
1992 Spondylus eastae Lamprell, 1992
K. L. Lamprell, 1992, figure 2.
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«ETYMOLOGY
For Aileen East who has donated material for study. MATERIAL EXAMINED
HOLOTYPE: WAM563-91, 1 pv, 7-11 m, Schofield Shoal, SW Exmouth Gulf, W.A., 1991. P. Clarkson. Height 82 mm, length 64 mm, width 37 mm. PARATYPES: QM MO32910, AM C167694, MV F6553. 3 pv, exposed on sponge covered limestone reef in tide rip, 15-22 m, S end South Muiron I., Exmouth Gulf, W.A., 1991, P. Clarkson. OTHER MATERIAL: Cape Keraudren, W.A., attached to rock at low tide, Sept. 1987, K. Lamprell; Port Hedland, W.A., attached to coral, low tide, Sept. 1987, K. LampreII; Exmouth Gulf, Town Beach, 6 m, attached to rocks, Sept. 1987, K. Larnprell and P. Spoor; Cape Keraudren, W.A., Sept. 1982, L. Marrow. DIAGNOSIS
Shell ovate to pear-shaped; solid. Hinge typical for the genus. Top (left) valve moderately convex umbonally, remainder of surface depressed to moderately concave; internally smooth, slightly excavated under the hinge plate, with a strong, wide, moderately crenulated margin; sculpture of numerous, weak radial ribs, ornamented by short, dense, strong, depressed, sharp spines and a few longer, irregular, flat, spatulate spines which are stronger at their bases. Rib interstices with a few irregular, obsolete radial ridges which are ornamented with dense, nodules or small spines. Lower (right) valve convex, moderately shallow to deep; cardinal area narrowly triangular, shallow; internally moderately excavate with wide, moderately crenulated margin; sculpture (where not affixed) of thin concentric foliations covering most of the surface, or otherwise with similar ribs and ornamentation to upper valve. Area of attachment varying from 10-70% of lower surface. Colouration typically brown/maroon to brick- red, orange or purple; umbones white with small flecks of brown; lower valve with similar colouration to top valve; internally blue-white centrally with deep purple-brown, red or orange margins and a dark brown margin towards the hinge. Height 72-93 mm, length 57-79 mm, width 30-42 mm. HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION
Embedded in dead coral boulders and depressions on reef, among sponges and gorgonian corals; usually covered in red sponge. Restricled to north Western Australia. REMARKS
Compared with Spondylus eastae, S. barbatus Reeve, 1856 has five or six strong, principal ribs with alternating, dense, sharp and spatulate spines, and colour bars or bands at the auricles. Spondylus violascens Lamarck, 1819 has been confused with S. eastae but has much stronger and denser spining on both valves, much less affixation and spatulate spines which are hollow rather than flat. The north-west Australian distribution given by Lamprell (1987) for S. violascens represents the range of S. eastae. Spondylus multimuricatus Reeve, 1856 is similar in shape and size to S. eastae but has stronger radial ribs ornamented with hollow, blunted spines (not spatulate) and with interstices that have few, irregular, smaller stout spines.» KEVIN L. LAMPRELL, 1992
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