Moll. Res. 17: 27-48 (1996). 
Callista, Lioconcha and Pitar in New Caledonia and adjacent waters 
(Mollusca, Veneridae) 
Kevin L. Lamprell 
and 
John Stanisic 
Queensland Museum 
PO Box 3300 South Brisbane, Queensland 4101 
Key words: Mollusca, Veneridae, New Caledonia, distribution, new species 
Abstract 
Three species of Callista, seven species of Lioconcha including two undescribed species, 
Lioconcha melharteae sp. nov. апа Lioconcha richerdeforgesi-sp. nov., and twelve 
Species of Pitar including a previously undescribed species, Pitar healyi sp. nov., are 
recorded from material collected in the waters off New Caledonia. 
Introduction 
The waters of New Caledonia and surrounding areas provide within a relatively small area, a wide 
Variety of underwater habitats comprising lagoons, reef slopes, seamounts and guyots, a sedimentary 
basin, trenches and volcanoes. This area is broadly defined as the New Caledonian economic zone 
(Richer de Forges 1990). For the past 10 years this area has been the focus of extensive sampling 
programmes conducted by the ORSTOM Institute, New Caledonia, aimed at documenting its diverse 
marine fauna. A full narrative of these cruises, including comprehensive station lists detailing 
latitude, longitude, depth, habitat type and collecting method, have been published elsewhere (Richer 
de Forges 1990, 1991) and are not repeated here. This study details the diversity and distribution of 
the venerid bivalves belonging to Callista, Lioconcha and Pitar based upon material collected on 
these expeditions. A small amount of material from the collection of J. Vidal has also been included. 
АП material used in this study is housed in the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris 
(MNHN). Although lacking registration numbers, the expedition material is uniquely identified by 
the combination of cruise name and station number. 
Abbreviations used: lv, left valve; rv, right valve; pv, paired valves. 
Systematics 
Family Veneridae Rafinesque, 1815 
Callista (Callista) accincta Rómer, 1866 
(Figure la-b) 
Callista accincta Rómer, 1866: 63, sp.19; pl.19, fig.la, b. 
Diagnosis: Shell moderately compressed, smooth, glossy, length to 60 mm. Sculpture of fine 
