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| Pinctada phuketensis Somrup, Sangsawang, Liu & Muangmai, in Somrup, Sangsawang, McMillan, ... et Muangmai, 2022. |
Abstract
A new species of the genus Pinctada is described from samples collected from the east coast of Phuket Island, Thailand in the Andaman Sea. Pinctada phuketensis sp. nov. is distinguished from other species on both molecular and morphological data. Morphologically, the valves of P. phuketensis are characterized by a slightly developed to undeveloped posterior auricle, a small, narrow slit-like byssal notch, the absence of hinge teeth, and a pale to transparent non-nacreous border, with a few dark brown or red blotches. This new species resembles P. fucata but differs by its smaller size and the absence of hinge teeth. Phylogenetic analyses based on both mitochondrial (COI) and nuclear (18S rDNA, ITS1 and ITS2) genes and species delimitation using COI data strongly support that P. phuketensis is a distinct species, which is closely related to Pinctada albina and Pinctada nigra.
Keywords: Indian Ocean, mollusk, new species, phylogeny, taxonomy
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| Shell of Pinctada phuketensis sp. nov. from Dok Mai Island, Phuket, Thailand. External and internal views of left and right valves A paratype, KUMF.MOLL.1204 (NMR077) (scale bar: 5 cm) B holotype, KUMF.MOLL.1206 (NMRA079) C paratype, KUMF.MOLL.1205 (NMR078) (scale bar: 4 cm). Abbreviations: LV, left valve; RV, right valve. |
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| Right valve of holotype, KUMF.MOLL.1206 (NMR079), of Pinctada phuketensis sp. nov., showing shell shape and structures. Abbreviations: ad.m, adductor muscle scar; ant.a, anterior auricle; by.n, byssal notch; hl, hinge line; lig, ligament; na, nacreous; nn.b, non-nacreous border; post.a, posterior auricle; um, umbo. |
Systematics
Family Pteriidae Gray, 1847
Genus Pinctada Röding, 1798
Pinctada phuketensis Somrup, Sangsawang, Liu & Muangmai, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Shell is anteriorly oblique, inequilateral, laterally compressed, and subcircular to quadrate in outline. Byssal notch is small, narrow and slit-like. Hinge teeth are absent. Adductor muscle scar is kidney- or bean-shaped with the distal extremities of the posterior pedo-byssal retractor muscle scar inserted into the concavity on its anterior border. The non-nacreous border is relatively pale to transparent, with few dark brown or black blotches.
Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the locality of Phuket Island, where this species was found.
Supannee Somrup, Akkarasiri Sangsawang, Nichanun McMillan, Supanida Winitchai, Jitti Inthoncharoen, Shikai Liu and Narongrit Muangmai. 2022. Pinctada phuketensis sp. nov. (Bivalvia, Ostreida, Margaritidae), A New Pearl Oyster Species from Phuket, western coast of Thailand. ZooKeys. 1119: 181-195. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1119.87724
