Taxonomy of myid bivalves from fragmented brackish-water habitats in India, with a description of a new genus (Myidae, Myoidea, Myidae).

A group of small bivalves inhabiting Indian brackish-water estuaries and lagoons (known locally as backwaters), variously assigned to , , and , are reviewed and, based on shell characters, shown to be congeneric. Molecular (COI) and morphological data indicate that this group belongs to the family Myidae. Furthermore, the combined data suggest that these Indian myids are a sister taxon of the genus . The Indian material studied herein exhibits a functional morphology typical of infaunal bivalves, whereas typical are nestling and epibyssate. A new genus, , is thus erected for the Indian group and includes five species, one of which is named in this study. Oliver, Hallan & Jayachandran, is described from the Cochin Backwater on the western coast of India. (Preston, 1916) is transferred to . Additionally, the west coast taxa (Preston, 1907), (Preston, 1911) and (EA Smith, 1893) are recognised herein. Preston, 1907, Preston, 1907, Preston, 1907 and Preston, 1907 are placed in synonymy with , and Preston, 1915 is synonymised with .