Marshall, 1922
Original Description: Anodontites pittieri Marshall, W.B. 1922. New pearly fresh water mussels from South America. Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 61(16):1-9 + 3 plates.
Type Locality: Guaremales [?], Venezuela.
Holotype: USNM 339954.
Synonymy:
- Anodontites pittieri Marshall, 1922
- Baker, 1930:68.
Description: “Shell high, roundly subquadrate, compressed, rather thin, slightly thicker at the middle than at the ends. Valves closed all round. Convexity nearly equally rounded, without a clearly defined posterior ridge, with several obsolete radiating ribs on the posterior dorsal area, these ribs with faint indications of green coloring. Anterior portion of the surface vernicose. Posterior portion dull and much roughened by concentric lamellae of periostracum. Middle portion with several radiating, faintly impressed lines and several radiating ruffings of the periostracum. Principal rest periods six, idicated by dark concentric lines. Vicinity of the beaks flesh color, rest of shell dark straw color, depending to light chestnut in front. Nacre pinkish and slightly pearly, in the cavity of the shell, brilliantly iridescent at the adductor scars and in a band just above the prismatic border. Interior everywhere finely radiatelt striated except on the prismatic borders. All adductor scars superficial, not appreciable to touch. Prismatic border very broad, occupying one-seventh of the height of the shell, and of a livid, slightly greenish hue, minutely granulous. Simulus very large, distinctly hooked at its lower end.
The type (Cat. No. 339954, USNM) measures: Length 50 mm., height 35 mm., diameter 17 mm. It comes from Guaremales, Venezuela, and was collected by Dr. Henry Pittier of the United States Department of Agriculture. This species is named in honor of Dr. Henry Pittier, whose explorations in tropical America have greatly enriched the National Museum’s collections.
This species classifies next to A. tortilis Lea, of which A. luteolus Lea and A. schomburgianus Sowerby are supposed to be synonyms. A pittieri has more chunky form, a pinkish nacre instead of bluish, has a prismatic border about three times as wide and has a much larger sinulus which has a distinct hook at its lower end. The anterior adductor scars of tortilis are deeply impressed, while those of pittieri are entirely superficial.” (Marshall, 1922:6-7).
Comments: I have been unable to locate the type locality (Guaremales ) on any map or find the name in any gazeteer.
Specimens Examined: USNM 339954 . Guaremales [?], Venezuela.