Limopsis sp. (NHM_453)

Wiklund, Helena, Taylor, John D., Dahlgren, Thomas G., Todt, Christiane, Ikebe, Chiho, Rabone, Muriel & Glover, Adrian G., 2017, Abyssal fauna of the UK- 1 polymetallic nodule exploration area, Clarion-Clipperton Zone, central Pacific Ocean: Mollusca, ZooKeys 707, pp. 1-46 : 16-17

Limopsis sp. (NHM_453)

Material examined.

NHM_453 NHMUK 20170069.1-2, collected 2013-10-21, 13.90165 -116.59, 4163 m. http://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/ce9cbed0-82cc-420d-baad-fdfff7cc0986

Description.

Subcircular to slightly oblique with slightly sinuous posterior margin. Periostracum with short, fine, bristles aligned in radial rows. Ligament small, triangular, set in shallow resilifer. Hinge teeth robust, 4 anterior and 5 posterior. Inner shell margin smooth. Voucher NHM_453 shell length 4.6 mm, height 4.3mm (Fig. 15).

Genetic data.

GenBank NHM_453 18S-MF157498, COI-MF157524.

Remarks.

Dissimilar in shape and periostracal bristle configuration to any recorded Eastern Pacific deep-water species (Coan & Valentich-Scott 2012). However, shape and number of hinge teeth are known to change with age/size in Limopsis species. In molecular analysis (Fig. 17) forms part of a well supported monophyletic clade with other Limopsis species and aligns closest to Limopsis marionensis Smith, 1885 from depths of 40-1000 m in the Southern Ocean. No genetic matches on GenBank.

Ecology.

Found in polymetallic nodule province.