Status of the genus <i>Dallicordia </i>and composition of deep-sea carnivorous bivalves of the genus <i>Policordia </i>(Bivalvia, Verticordioidea, Lyonsiellidae)

Abstract

The family Lyonsiellidae comprises carnivorous bivalve molluscs, distributed worldwide from sublittoral to ultraabyssal depths. One of the key anatomical characters of lyonsiellids is the reduction of the gill filaments in size and number and an increase of amount of muscles and connective tissue in gills, so their ctenidia represent an intermediate stage between eulamellibranch and septibranch conditions. The family Lyonsiellidae presently includes four genera: Lyonsiella, Allogramma, Policordia and Dallicordia. Taxonomy of the family is still problematic at both generic and species levels. The genus Dallicordia, typified by Lyonsiella alaskana was established on the assumption that it has no gills but possesses a muscular septum pierced by ostia, in contrast to the other lyonsiellids that have filamentous gills. Additionally, Lyonsiella uschakovi and Policordia ochotica were tentatively assigned to the new genus. Later P. ochotica was synonymized with P. media. In this paper we show that actually the Dallicordia was typified by an undescribed species misidentified as Lyonsiella alaskana which we describe here as D. bernardi sp. nov. Taxonomic position of the genus is dubious and could be clarified only after additional anatomical data on its type species becomes available. On the basis of examination of the type material of P. ochotica and images of the holotype of P. media, we reinstate the species P. ochotica. For the first time photographs of the holotype of L. uschakovi are provided for this specimen that was previously considered lost. Given the current state of knowledge we propose to consider species L. alaskana, L. uschakovi and P. ochotica in frame of the genus Policordia, for which we provide a list of all 29 species described up to date.