Astarte montagui (Dillwyn, 1817)
Crassatelloidea : Astartidae |
| Tebble name: | Astarte montagui (Dillwyn) |
| Smith & Heppell name: | Tridonta montagui (Dillwyn, 1817) |
To size: To 15mm. Shell Structure: Relatively solid. Equivalve: Equivalve. Equilateral: Very slightly inequilateral, the beaks lie approximately 45% of dorsal margin length from anterior. Tumidity: Moderately tumid. Outline: Broadly rounded triangular, width of shell more or less the same as the height. Posterior dorsal margin gently sloping, gently rounded and slightly convex; anterior dorsal margin more steeply sloping and slightly concave; anterior and posterior ends rounded; ventral margin deeply rounded; lunule distinct, elongate heart-shaped with moderately well defined, slightly raised edges; escutcheon distinct, lanceolate, with well defined slightly raised edges. Beaks prosogyrous.
Sculpture: Broad, concentric, strap-like ridges, over 40 in adult individuals. Margin: Smooth. Ligament: Broad, distinct but not prominently raised, runs for approximately half the length of the escutcheon. Hinge: Heterodont: Robust hinge plate; right valve with 2 solid, blunt cardinal teeth, the posterior tooth is thin and the anterior tooth is very broad; left valve with 3 blunt cardinal teeth, the 2 anterior teeth are relatively broad and solid whereas the posterior cardinal in very thin and not prominent. Pallial Musculature: Entire. Periostracum: Ranges from yellowy brown to dark brown. Silky surface texture with microscopic, rounded oval pits. Colour: White.
Distribution & Ecology
Lives in clean and silty sands and gravels from the near sub-littoral (intertidal on some sheltered coasts) towards the outer shelf, depth range c.5m - >150m.
Depth Range
Intertidal
Continental Shelf (to 200m)
Additional Information & Related Species
Related Species
Crassatelloidea : Astartidae
References
Listed are literature citing Astarte montagui (Dillwyn, 1817). Reference containing the species Type Description is highlighted.
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Dillwyn L W 1817. A Descriptive Catalogue of Recent Shells arranged according to the Linnaen method with particular attention to the synonymy London. 580pp. |
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Høpner Petersen G. 2001. Studies on some Arctic and Baltic Astarte species (Bivalvia, Mollusca). Bioscience. 52: 1-71. |
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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