Abyssogena: a new genus of the family Vesicomyidae (Bivalvia) from deep-water vents and seeps

• Published in: Journal of Molluscan Studies
• Main Authors: Krylova, Elena M., Sahling, Heiko, Janssen, Ronald
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University Press 2010
• Subjects: Research Papers; Pacific; Kamchatka
• Online Access: http://mollus.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/76/2/107; https://doi.org/10.1093/mollus/eyp052

A new genus Abyssogena is established for A. phaseoliformis (<cross-ref type="bib" refid="EYP052C33">Métivier, Okutani & Ohta, 1986</cross-ref>) and A. kaikoi (<cross-ref type="bib" refid="EYP052C37">Okutani & Métivier, 1986</cross-ref>), which were previously assigned to the genus Calyptogena Dall, 1891, and also for two new species, A. southwardae and A. novacula . The most characteristic features of Abyssogena are an elongate shell up to about 280 mm in length; a pallial line starting from the ventral margin of the anterior adductor scar; secondary pallial attachment scars developed dorsal to the pallial line; radially arranged hinge teeth with a reduced anterior cardinal tooth in the right valve; and presence of an inner ctenidial demibranch only. Abyssogena occurs in deep water from 2,985 to 6,400 m and is distributed in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans at cold seeps along continental margins and hydrothermal vents at mid-oceanic ridges. Some species have a remarkably wide geographic distribution; A. southwardae is present throughout the Atlantic and A. phaseoliformis is present in Japan, Kuril-Kamchatka, as well as Aleutian Trenches. No fossils of Abyssogena are known.