The Lioconcha castrensis species group (Bivalvia: Veneridae), with the description of two new species

Abstract

Part of the genus Lioconcha Mörch, 1853 is reviewed. Species strongly resembling Lioconcha castrensis (Linnaeus, 1758) are discussed and two new species are described: Lioconcha arabaya n. sp. from the Northwest Indian Ocean and Lioconcha rumphii n. sp. from Thailand and Sumatra. These three species, together with Lioconcha macaulayi Lamprell & Healy, 2002, share many morphological similarities and we suspect them to be closely related. They are referred to as the Lioconcha castrensis species group. Furthermore, lectotypes of Venus castrensis Linnaeus, 1758, and Venus fulminea Röding, 1798, are designated. The latter is considered a junior synonym of V. castrensis. © 2010 Malacological Society of Australasia & Society for the Study of Molluscan Diversity.