Paphia (Protapes) (Bivalvia: Veneroidea) in the Arabian Sea, with the description of a new species

The genus Paphia in the Arabian Sea contains taxa belonging to the subgenera Protapes and Paratapes. The species of Protapes and Paratapes are revised using shell morphometric analysis. Five taxa are recognised of which four are distinguished at the species level with the fifth given sub-species status only. A new species, Paphia (Protapes) rhamphodes is described from the coast of Oman and the Arabian Gulf. Paphia (Protapes) gallus is regarded as distinct from P. (P.) sinuosa, the former not extending north of the Malabar coast and absent from the Arabian Sea. A new subspecies P. (P.) gallus bombayana is recognised from NW India and hypothesised to be a result of clinal and ecological influences. The remaining taxon, P. (P.) cor is tentatively retained in the genus Paphia.