 St John’s Point, Co. Donegal M012237 |
 M011278 |
 M011279 |
 Irish Sea M012227 |
 Irish Sea M012228 |
 Irish Sea M012229 |
 Irish Sea M012230 |
 Loch Creran, near Oban M012231 |
 Loch Creran, near Oban M012232 |
 Loch Creran, near Oban M012233 |
 Loch Creran, near Oban M012234 |
 St John’s Point, Co. Donegal M012235 |
 St John’s Point, Co. Donegal M012236 |
 Sullom Voe M012238 |
 Sullom Voe M012239 |
''
NMW Image No.
Kurtiella bidentata (Montagu, 1803)
Galeommatoidea : Montacutidae| Tebble name: | Mysella bidentata (Montagu) |
| Smith & Heppell name: | Mysella bidentata (Montagu, 1803) |
To size:
To 6mm.
Shell Structure:
Thin, rather fragile.
Equivalve:
Equivalve.
Equilateral:
Inequilateral, beaks distinctly behind midline.
Tumidity:
Variable, some distinctly tumid.
Outline:
Subovate, anterior dorsal margin almost straight and sloping gently; anterior margin broadly rounded, ventral gently curved; posterior dorsal margin short slightly sunken; posterior margin subtruncate and distinctly narrower than anterior.
Contour:
Posterior area set off by a weak ridge; lunule shallow, narrow, long.
Sculpture:
Of fine concentric lines and growth stops;.
Margin:
Inner margin smooth.
Ligament:
Internal, set beneath the beaks.
Hinge:
RV with single strong cardinal flanges either side of ligament; LV with single marginal flanges either side of ligament.
Pallial Musculature:
Pallial line wide, entire.
Periostracum:
Thin, pale, often with ferruginous or manganese coating.
Colour:
Dirty white.
Additional Characters:
Prodissoconch 400-580 µm, P1 smooth, P2 with faint co-marginal growth lines.
Plate 1
Plate 2
Plate 3
Plate 4
Plate 5
Distribution & Ecology
Intertidal in mud-filled crevices and in sublittoral and shelf mud and muddy sand. Associated with ophiuroid dominated communities but intertidally can be found with Epilepton along with sipunculans and polychaetes.
Widespread.
Depth Range
Intertidal
Continental Shelf (to 200m)
Juveniles & Similar Species
Juvenile Description
Key Features & Similar Species
Species of the genus Kurtiella are characterised by the divergent single lateral hinge teeth and deep inset internal ligament. Kurtiella bidentata can be abundant in near shore Abra/Amphiura communities and is noticable from its dark encrusted appearance. Other species of Kurtiella described here are deep water and only K. tumidula is likely to be encountered, but that species has a narrow pointed posterior and broadly rounded anterior.
Additional Comments
Some populations have shells that are distinctly heavier, with stronger teeth and a more triangular outline. These are the S-form of Ockelmann & Muus (1978) as opposed to the more typical shells that they called the M-form.
References
Listed are literature citing Kurtiella bidentata (Montagu, 1803). Reference containing the species Type Description is highlighted.
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Gofas, S. & Salas, C. 2008. A review of European ‘Mysella’ species (Bivalvia: Montacutidae), with description of Kurtiella new genus. Journal of Molluscan Studies. 74: 119-135. |
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Kallonas M, Zenetos A & Gofas S 1999. Notes on the Ecology and Distribution of Microbivalvia in Greek Waters. La Conchiglia. 291: 11-20. |
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Montagu G 1803. Testacea Britannica, or natural history of British shells, marine, land and the fresh-water, including the most minute: systematically arranged and embellished with figures Romsey, London. 606pp, 16pls. |
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Ockelmann KW & Muus K 1978. The biology, ecology and behaviour of the bivalve Mysella bidentata (Montagu). Ophelia. 17 (1): 1-93. |
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Van Aartsen JJ 1996. Galeommatacea and Cyamiacea Part II. La Conchiglia. 281: 27-53, + 61. |
Resources
Downloads
Weblinks
- 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.