Kellia sp.

Oliver, P. Graham & Holmes, Anna, 2004, Cryptic bivalves with descriptions of new species from the Rodrigues lagoon, Journal of Natural History 38 (23), pp. 3175-3227 : 3207

Kellia sp.

( figures 103–105 )

Material examined. A single shell from Stn RDS 52, Grand Pate´, off Port Mathurin, 19 ‡ 39.307 ’ S, 63 ‡ 24.950 ’ E, 29 September 2001, sand in surge channel, 17 m, scuba, coll. N. L. Bruce and J. Smith, NMW .Z.2001.061.00031.

Description. Shell 4.37 6 4.37 mm. Fragile, hyaline. Equivalve. Equilateral. Outline orbicular, slightly higher than long and a little oblique; margins broadly rounded; umbos prominent. Sculpture smooth, surface glassy. Hinge weak, small paired anterior cardinal process separated from small remote posterior lateral by long narrow resilium ( figure 105 ).

Remarks. Species of the genus Kellia are rather similar throughout the cosmopolitan range of the genus and this shell could belong to a number of nominal taxa including K. cycladiformis Deshayes, 1850 . Until considerably more material becomes available we cannot identify this shell with any certainty.

Figures

FIGS. 103–105. Kellia sp., NMW.Z.2001.061.00031 (SEM): (103) external right valve; (104) internal left valve; (105) hinge and prodissoconch left valve.