A new genus and species of Thyasiridae (Mollusca, Bivalvia) from deep-water, Beaufort Sea, northern Alaska

By

Valentich-Scott, Paul
Powell, Charles
Lorenson, Thomas
Ewards, Brian

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2014

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

462

Pages

11-26

Subjects

Alaska , Arctic Ocean , Axinus , Beaufort Sea , Bivalvia , chemoautotrophic , Endosymbiosis , Maorithyas , Mollusca , Parathyasira , Spinaxinus , taxonomy , Thyasiridae , Wallerconcha

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.462.6790

 

Abstract

Bivalve mollusk shells were collected in 2350 m depth in the Beaufort Sea, Arctic Ocean off northern Alaska. Initial identification suggested the specimens were a member of the bivalve family Thyasiridae, but no known eastern Pacific or Arctic living or fossil thyasirid resembled these deep-water specimens. Comparisons were made with the type of the genera Maorithyas Fleming, 1950, Spinaxinus Oliver & Holmes, 2006, Axinus Sowerby, 1821, and Parathyasira Iredale, 1930. We determined the Beaufort Sea species represents a new genus, herein described as Wallerconcha. These specimens also represent a new species, herein named Wallerconcha sarae. These new taxa are compared with known modern and fossil genera and species of thyasirds.