Genus Protapes Dall, 1902

Type species.

Venus gallus Gmelin, 1791

Description.

Moderately large, outline triangular ovate to oval, often posteriorly truncated and pronounced anteriorly; lunule margin excavated. Hinge with three cardinal teeth in each valve. Ligament external, opisthodetic. Pallial sinus steeply ascending towards the umbonal cavity. External sculpture strong, of raised commarginal ridges. External patterns predominantly of interrupted zig-zag lines.

Remarks .

The genera Protapes, Paphia, and Paratapes all share the character of the ascending pallial sinus. Paphia and Paratapes differ in outline and sculpture in being elongate, distinctly longer than high, and having a smooth shell.

Three species of Protapes are recorded from Indian waters, P. gallus (Gmelin, 1791), P. ziczac (Linnaeus, 1758), and P. monstrosus ( Römer, 1870), and all are well illustrated by Huber (2010). Only P. gallus and P. ziczac were collected in this study.