Pristipagia radians ( Deshayes, 1854 ) Raines & Huber, 2012

Raines, Bret & Huber, Markus, 2012, 3217, Zootaxa 3217, pp. 1-106 : 78

Pristipagia radians ( Deshayes, 1854) comb. nov.

Figures 39 G–I

Tellina radians Deshayes, 1854: p. 366 .

Tellina (Tellinella) radians Deshayes, 1854 — Lamprell & Whitehead, 1992: p. 88, pl. 42, fig. 290; Brook & Marshall, 1998: p. 213; Spencer et al., 2011: p. 1.

Material examined. Several articulated specimens and single valves (5 to 15.7 mm) (BK).

Diagnosis. Shell small (up to 20 mm in length), elongate-ovate, equivalve, inequilateral, not fragile. Umbones elevated. Posterior end obliquely truncate with a narrow ridge from the umbo to the ventral margin; anterior end well rounded. Exterior surface of uniform commarginal ridges. Interior smooth with pallial sinus running from muscle to muscle. Hinge stout, consisting of divergent cardinals and long laterals on the posterior and anterior. Color variable, creamy white to pale yellow background with irregularly spaced red to reddish orange radial rays.

Remarks. The pallial sinus of the EI specimens runs from muscle to muscle, thus, juvenile Tellinella staurella ( Lamarck, 1818) , and Tellinella virgata ( Linnaeus, 1758) , are excluded. Lamprell and Whitehead (1992) placed P. radians in Tellinella Mörch, 1853 , but that does not fit the shape or pallial sinus, and Tellinella is generally more elongate and much larger in size. However, the genus Pristipagia which is related to Serratina Pallary, 1922 , does match. This opinion was confirmed by A. Langleit, (pers. comm., 2010).

The type is illustrated in Higo et al. (2001: B912). Originally described without location, Pristipagia radians has been recorded from Australia to Japan and also from the Kermadec Islands. The type specimen is moderately larger (21 mm) and higher in shape than the EI material. However, the same shape variability of P. radians was also seen in Pristipagia adamsii ( Bertin, 1878) , of the Red Sea.

Habitat. Occasionally found at several locations around EI, in sand and rubble, from 10–150 m. Live taken at 30 m.

Distribution. Pristipagia radians is known from Australia to Japan, including the Kermadec Islands, but not the Hawaiian Islands. Easter Island is now considered a range extension— E5.