The live coral associated and excavating bivalves, formerly combined under the name Lithophaga (Leiosolenus) purpurea KLEEMANN, 1980, are a mixture of species. The types and similar looking specimens from acroporid Montipora species belong to L. purpurea in the present sense, specimens from faviid Cyphastrea and Echinopora species generally belong to L. parapurpurea n. sp., and those from the astrocoeniid Stylocoeniella are members of L. dahabensis n. sp.
The live coral associated and excavating bivalves, formerly combined under the name Lithophaga (Leiosolenus) purpurea KLEEMANN, 1980, are a mixture of species. The types and similar looking specimens from acroporid Montipora species belong to L. purpurea in the present sense, specimens from faviid Cyphastrea and Echinopora species generally belong to L. parapurpurea n. sp., and those from the astrocoeniid Stylocoeniella are members of L. dahabensis n. sp.