The bivalve genus Sunetta Link, 1807 (Heterodonta: Veneridae) of Japan and the neighbouring waters–a taxonomic revision with the descriptions of three new species

Hiroshi Fukuda, So Ishida, Tetsuya Watanabe, Sadaaki Yoshimatsu, Takuma Haga

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Species of Sunetta Link, 1807 from Japan and the neighbouring regions (Korea, China and Taiwan) are revised taxonomically. Eight species of the subgenus Sunemeroe Iredale, 1930 are recognised: Sunetta beni n.sp., S. crassatelliformis Haga and H. Fukuda, n.sp., S. cumingii E.A. Smith, 1891, S. kirai Huber, 2010, S. langfordi (Habe, 1953), S. menstrualis (Menke, 1843) S. nomurai Haga and H. Fukuda, n.sp., and S. sunettina (Jousseaume, 1891). Although S. beni has long been misidentified as S. solanderii (Gray, 1825) from the Indian Ocean, it is distinguishable from all other Sunemeroe species in having a small, oval and inflated shell with a round posterior end and a broad and deeply sunken escutcheon. Sunetta crassatelliformis is a Lower Pleistocene species endemic to Japan. Another fossil species S. nomurai is known from the Pleistocene of Taiwan. Sunetta cumingii, a little-known Recent species from southwestern Japan and Taiwan, is separable from S. sunettina (= S. contempta E.A. Smith, 1891), which has often been regarded as synonymous. Amongst the six Recent species only S. sunettina is widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific; the other five have narrower geographical ranges around Japan. Sunetta beni and S. menstrualis are thought to be threatened due to habitat loss.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)107-171
Number of pages65
JournalMolluscan Research
Volume41
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

Keywords

  • Distribution
  • Plio-Pleistocene
  • Sunemeroe
  • Sunettinae
  • endangered species
  • fossil
  • morphology
  • sandy bottom
  • shallow sea
  • taxonomy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Animal Science and Zoology
  • Genetics

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