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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