Description of Austrodevonia sharnae n. gen. n. sp. (Galeommatidae : Bivalvia), an ectocommensal of Taeniogyrus australianus (Stimpson, 1855) (Synaptidae : Holothuroidea)

Abstract

Austrodevonia sharnae n. gen. n. sp. is an ectocommensal on the sand dwelling holothurian Taeonigyrus australianus (Stimpson, 1855) in the intertidal zone in the vicinity of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The species adheres by way of a dorsoventrally flattened foot and byssus, and is located predominantly medioventrally on the holothurian. The species is compared with other galeommatoidean taxa that coexist with holothurians, i.e. Devonia, Anisodevonia, Benthoquetia, Entovalva, Scintillona and Cycladoconcha.