The Identity of Pronodularia japanensis (Lea, 1859) (Bivalvia: Unionidae) and Estimation of Its Type Locality

Abstract

Genetic analysis revealed that Pronodularia japanensis can be divided into three groups. But it was not possible to determine which group corresponds to P. japanensis, because the exact type locality of this species is unknown. By comparing the ratios of shell height and shell width to shell length, the group (P. cf. japanensis 3) distributed in northeastern Honshu was regarded as that corresponding to P. japanensis. On this basis it was estimated where the lectotype of this species was collected.