A review of European ‘Mysella’ species (Bivalvia, Montacutidae), with description of Kurtiella new genus

Abstract

The type species of the genera Mysella Angas, 1877, Rochefortia Velain, 1878, Rochefortula Finlay, 1927 and Altenaeum Spaink, 1972 are illustrated and discussed. A new genus Kurtiella is introduced for 'Mysella' bidentata (Montagu, 1803) and other European species currently placed in Mysella. These species display a unique diagnostic character state in having the cardinal platform deeply receding to house the internal ligament, along with an array of more general montacutid traits. At the species level, diagnostic characters are given for the type species K. bidentata, and for other included species K. ovata (Jeffreys, 1881), K. pellucida (Jeffreys, 1881), K. triangularis (Watson, 1897) and K. tumidula (Jeffreys, 1866), based mostly on characters of the prodissoconch and on shell outline. Montacuta simillima Smith, 1892, from St Helena, is considered a junior synonym of K. pellucida. The loss of labial palps in K. tumidula is interpreted as a further derived character, which does not conflict with the generic placement in Kurtiella.