Molluscan Fauna from the Miocene Sediments of Kachchh, Gujarat, India - Part 4, <I>Indarca</I>, a New Anadaroid Genus

Abstract

An interesting bivalve fossil obtained from the Claystone Member of the Chhasra Formation (Burdigalian), Kachchh District, India was found conspecific with Anadara gourae Dey (Arcidae, Anadarinae) from the Quilon Beds (Burdigalian), Kerala. However, this form is feebly inequivalve and has dissimilar ornamentation on the two valves, a trapezoidal form and its maximum height is at the posterior. Also, there is a small but distinct median sulcus on the exterior of the umbonal region. These characteristics do not agree with definition of the genus Anadara. Hence it is described here under a new genus, Indarca. Subgenus Cunearca Dall of genus Scapharca Gray (Arcidae, Anadarinae), also shows dissimilar ornamentation on the two valves, but differs from Indarca in having an inflated form, left valve slightly larger and absence of a sulcus on the umbonal region. Indarca resembles Bentharca Verrill and Bush (Arcidae, Anadarinae) in certain respects, but differs from it in not having a markedly reduced anterior. Occurrence of Indarca gourae strengthens the faunal affinity between the Chhasra Formation of Kachchh and the Quilon Beds of Kerala.