Neptunea 18(4)

An additional report of Yoldia limatula (Say, 1831) (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Yoldiidae) in Belgian waters, with a comparison to related species, pp. 1-13, pls I-VIII, by Frank Nolf

Keywords: Mollusca, Bivalvia, YOLDIIDAE, non-indigenous species, Oostende, North Sea.

Abstract: The bivalve species Yoldia limatula (Say, 1831) is native to the eastern coast of North America, including eastern Canada and Iceland. Since 2019, its presence has been documented at multiple locations in European waters, including the Netherlands, the Belgian coast, the harbour of Le Havre (Normandy, France), and the Tees Estuary (United Kingdom). The present study reports the occurrence of Y. limatula in Oostende (Belgium) and provides a comparative analysis with the related boreal species Yoldia hyperborea (A. Gould, 1841).

Range extension of Cardiocardita obesa Cosel, 1995 and Akardita monodi (Nicklès, 1953) (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Carditidae) into Gabonese and Angolan waters, pp. 14-20, pls I-V, by Frank Nolf

Keywords: Mollusca, Bivalvia, CARDITIDAE, Cardiocardita obesa, Akardita monodi, East Atlantic.

Abstract: Until now, specimens of Cardiocardita obesa Cosel, 1995, have only been recorded from Casamance, Senegal, and Akardita monodi (Nicklès, 1953) has not previously been reported outside of north- western Africa (Northern Alternant Region). The present study documents the occurrence of both species in the Southern Alternant Region, significantly distant from their respective type localities. Specimens collected from Gabon and Angola are compared with representatives from north-western Africa. These findings suggest that both ‘Cardita’ species exhibit a disjunct distribution along the West African coast.

A new Glabella species from Angola (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Marginellidae), pp. 21-31, pls I-VI, by Frank Nolf & Steve Hubrecht

Keywords: Mollusca, Gastropoda, MARGINELLIDAE, Glabella sp. nov., Angola.

Abstract: Glabella pemarcoensis sp. nov., from Angola, is described and compared with related taxa from West African waters. This is one of approximately a dozen new mollusc species discovered during trawling operations conducted by the PEMARCO fishery along the coasts of Congo-Kinshasa, Angola, and northern Namibia towards the end of the 20th century.

Venus verrucosa simulans G.B. Sowerby I, 1844: new insights on its nomenclatural status, pp. 32-37, pls I-II, by Frank Nolf

Keywords: Mollusca, Bivalvia, VENERIDAE, Venus verrucosa, Venus simulans, Venus damasoi, Cape Verde Islands, East Atlantic.

Abstract: A population of smaller, shorter, and more globose specimens of Venus verrucosa Linnaeus, 1758, was first identified by G.B. Sowerby I (1844) as a distinct fossil species from a tertiary deposit, Venus simulans. This species had long been regarded as endemic to the Cape Verde Islands. However, similar looking specimens have been recorded in the last decade from other West African regions, including Gabon and Angola (Nolf, 2021). A supposed new species, Venus damasoi T. Cossignani, 2015, was recently described from Angola. However, it is likely that the specimens upon which this description is based are associated with inaccurate locality data. The present paper aims to highlight the distinct characteristics of the Cape Verde shells, proposing that they be recognised as a subspecies of Venus verrucosa and offers several amendments to a previously published article published in Neptunea, 15(1): 13-23.