Family SPHAERIIDAE Deshayes, 1855 (1820)

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• Sphaeriidae Deshayes, 1855 (1820) [placed on the Offical List by Opinion 1331 (1985: 230),where it was given the priority (1820) of Cycladidae, and attributed in error to Jeffreys, 1862; authorship and date changed to Deshayes, “1854” [in error for 1855], by Opinion 1957 (2000: 182); see Bieler et al. (2010: 81)].

Introduction

Spheriids are a cosmopolitan family of freshwater heterodont bivalves, commonly known as pea-shells. These small, round, regular, fragile bivalves have the beak approximately centrally to somewhat posteriorly placed, usually weak hinge teeth and tiny pores in the shell. They are hermaphrodites and brood their young in pouches in their gills.

Sphaeridae are found in mud in streams, creeks, ponds and almost any permanent or semipermanent water. They are usually found in large numbers and occur in mountain bogs above the snow-line to freshwater pools in desert areas. Good summaries of the family can be found in Brunckhorst (1998) and Korniushin (2000). This list is based on a recent revision of the Australian members of the family by Korniushin (2000).

General References

Bieler, R., Carter, J.G. & Coan, E.V. 2010. Classiication of Bivalve Families. pp. 113-133 in Bouchet, P. & Rocroi, J.-P. Nomenclator of Bivalve Families; with a classiication of bivalve families by R. Bieler, J.G. Carter & E.V. Coan. Malacologia 52(2): 1-184 [129]

Brunckhorst, D.J. 1998. Family Sphaeriidae. 355 in Beesley, P.L., Ross, G.J.B. & Wells, A. (eds). Mollusca: The Southern Synthesis. Fauna of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing Vol. 5(Part A) pp. xvi, 1-563.

Korniushin, A.V. 2000. Review of the Family Sphaeriidae (Mollusca: Bivalvia) of Australia, with the description of four new species. Records of the Australian Museum 52: 41-102

Korniushin, A.V. & Glaubrecht, M. 2002. Phylogenetic analysis based on the morphology of viviparous freshwater clams of the family Sphaeriidae (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Veneroida). Zoologica Scripta 31(5): 415-459

Kuiper, J.G.J. 1983. The Sphaeriidae of Australia. Basteria 47: 3-52

Smith, E.A. 1882. On the freshwater shells of Australia. Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology 16: 255-316

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