Anatomy of New Zealand species of the family Sphaeriidae (Bivalvia, Eulamellibranchia)

Abstract

Mantle edge, gills, brood pouches and nephridia are described in Musculium novaezelandiae (Deshayes 1854), Pisidium hodgkini (Suter, 1905) and P. novaezelandiae Prime, 1862. Affinity of the first species to the subgenus Sphaerinova Iredale and placement of the second one in the subgenus Afropisidium Kuiper is confirmed by anatomical characters. The problem of identity of P. novaezelandiae and P. casertanum (Poli, 1791) is discussed.

Key words:

• Sphaeriidae
• New Zealand