One becomes three: An integrative morphological and molecular analysis of the windowpane oyster Placuna (Bivalvia: Pectinida) reveals new species

Abstract

Abstract For decades, many marine animals have been considered to exhibit cosmopolitan or transoceanic distribution. This situation is prevalent in Asia, where many species were collected and named by American or European experts in the 1700s to early 1900s. Using the windowpane oysters Placuna—a small genus of bivalves with five recognized species—we show that careful analysis is required to reassess the validity of these species. Currently, only two species of Placuna (P. placenta and P. ephippium) widely reported in the Indo‐Pacific region have been recorded from Chinese coastal waters. Here, we described two new species of Placuna from China. Placuna vitream sp. nov. can be distinguished from P. placenta by its larger ridge angle. Phylogenetic analysis using five gene fragments fully supported that P. vitream sp. nov. is a sister to the specimen from Singapore identified as P. placenta and more distant from other Placuna species with available molecular data. Besides, based on subfossil shells, we describe Placuna aestuaria sp. nov. that differs from its congeneric species by its broad hinge, medium ridge angle, and nearly straight ridges. Finally, we suggest a combination of hinge structure and ridge angle that can be used for identifying Placuna species and preparing a key to this genus. Our findings of two new species expand the diversity of Placuna and prompt reassessment of the many presumably widely distributed marine species in Asia.

Keywords

• Bivalvia
• capiz shell
• phylogeny
• Placunidae
• windowpane oyster