First record of the abyssal bivalve Halicardia flexuosa (Bivalvia: Verticordiidae) in the Bay of Biscay

The occurrence of the flexed verticord, Halicardia flexuosa (Verrill & S. Smith [in Verrill], 1881), is reported for the first time from the Bay of Biscay (North Iberian Peninsula). This rare bivalve was collected from deep waters (1200 m depth) of the Avilés Canyon Systems (Central Cantabrian Sea). We provide a detailed description and illustration of the species, as well as brief notes on its ecology at the new locality and its global biogeography.

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