Musculus (Modiolarca) subpictus (Cantraine, 1835)
Mytiloidea : Mytilidae |
| Tebble name: | Musculus marmoratus (Forbes) |
| Smith & Heppell name: | Modiolarca tumida (Hanley, 1843) |
Notes on Nomenclature
To size: To 20mm. Shell Structure: Thin but not fragile. Equivalve: Equivalve. Equilateral: Strongly inequilateral beaks close to the anterior margin. Tumidity: Inflated, umbos prominent. Outline: Modioliform, rhomboidal; ligament margin short, angled to posterior dorsal margin; posterior drawn out, narrowly rounded; ventral and anterior margins a broad curve but often depressed adjacent to non ribbed area. Contour: Posterior angle distinct extending from umbos to margins.
Sculpture: Radially ribbed except for smooth median area; 20-35 flat posterior ribs often faint, interspaces narrow; 15-18 prominent anterior ribs; Overall with comarginal lines and growth stops. Margin: Crenulate where radial ribs meet margin. Ligament: Deeply inset extending for most of the posterior dorsal margin. Hinge: Hinge plate narrow, dysodont teeth posterior of ligament obscure, otherwise smooth. Pallial Musculature: Mostly obscure. Periostracum: Thin persistent. Light green to greenish brown often with scattered blotches and spots of brown, pinkish brown or purplish brown. Colour: White, internally lustrous.
Distribution & Ecology
Often embedded in the tests of ascidians but not exclusively and can be found attached by the byssus in kelp holdfasts, crevices and on coarse offshore substrates.
Depth Range
Intertidal
Continental Shelf (to 200m)
Additional Information & Related Species
Related Species
Mytiloidea : Mytilidae
References
Listed are literature citing Musculus (Modiolarca) subpictus (Cantraine, 1835). Reference containing the species Type Description is highlighted.
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Bodger P M & Allen J A 2008. The ecology and lifecycle of a population of Modiolarca tumida (Hanley, 1843) (Bivalvia: Mytilidae) of the coast off northeastern England. Journal of Molluscan Studies. 74: 97-101. |
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Cantraine F J 1835. Diagnoses ou descriptions succinctes de quelques espèces nouvelles de mollusques. Bulletins de l'Académie Royale des Sciences et Belles-lettres de Bruxelles. 2 (11): 38-411. |
Resources
- Conchological Society
of Great Britain & Ireland
Provides resources for understanding, identifying, recording, and conserving molluscs - CLEMAM
Check List of European Marine Mollusca - MarLIN
The Marine Life Information Network for Britain and Ireland (MarLIN) provides information for marine environmental management, protection and education. It is a centre of excellence in spatially based and time-series marine biological information and supports good stewardship in the marine environment. - NBN Gateway
National Biodiversity Network's Gateway. Use it to explore UK biodiversity data, as contributed by participating data providers. - BivAToL
- MarBEF
- Malacological Society
- Unitas Malacologica
- Census of Marine Life
- MarBEF
MarBEF, a network of excellence funded by the European Union and consisting of 94 European marine institutes, is a platform to integrate and disseminate knowledge and expertise on marine biodiversity, with links to researchers, industry, stakeholders and the general public.
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