A new Polititapes Chiamenti, 1900 (Bivalvia: Veneridae) from Namibia

During 2 sampling campaigns single valves of a minute species of Polititapes were dredged at 26-42 m depths off the northern coast of Namibia. The shells were found in muddy and silty sediment with a high diversity of benthic life. Polititapes parvovalis sp. nov. differs from all known West and South African Veneridae and is described as new. Because of the indistinct lunule, we have assigned the new species to the genus Polititapes with reservations.