Isognomon australicus (Reeve, 1858) |
KwaZulu-Natal, eastern Mediterranean, Ionian Sea. Filter feeder in the upper infralittoral. Original taxon: Perna australica. Synonym: anomioides Reeve. Above: Perna anomioides (left) and Perna australica (right) in L. A. Reeve: Conchologia iconica vol. XI, London 1859, plate 3 of the Perna, figures 11 & 12. |
The species could have a wider distribution than that suggested above. Many authors have found what they though was Perna australica or anomioides in many places: South Africa (Steyn & Lussi), California and Australia (Reeve), Torres Strait (Mellvill & Standen)… Above: a specimen collected at 2m deep, under stone, between the beach and the “Byron” shipwreck, Kaloí Liménes, Phaistós dímos, S. Crete. 75mm. |
Inside pearly, with some traces of black radial blotches near the ventral edges. Same spot. 70mm. |
The hinge: four to five pits can be discerned, anteriorly placed. Notice, on the second image, inside the gape, a kind of scar dedicated to the anchorage of the pedo-byssal muscle. |
The byssal sinus on the anterior part. |
Variation of shape in the population of the “Byron”. 64-75mm. |
Isognomon australicus in crevices of the rocky walls between the two coves of Kaloí Liménes. |
5m deep, Karpathos island, SE. Aegean. 75mm. Original pictures provided by I. Mulero (ES). – (CC BY-NC-SA) – |
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