New and uncommon Bivalvia Mollusca of Thermaikos Gulf (NW Aegean Sea)

Abstract

The molluscan bivalve fauna of Thermaikos Gulf was investigated and collected with emphasis on the minor in size species during the period from october 2008 to June 2013. Forty six species be longing to 23 families were identified and their biodiversity was compared with the current check lists of marine bivalve molluscs for the Hellenic seas based on previous surveys. in this col-lection of bivalves, nineare new for the Eastern Mediterranean sea, 15 are new for the Hellenic fauna (three of which are alien) and 39 are new for Thermaikos Gulf (five of which are alien). These records raise the Hellenic and Thermaikos Gulf bivalve fauna by approximately 5.5% and 21%, respectively. The main identification characteristics and ecological information such as ha- bitat, distribution and origin are given and discussed.