 Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, Wales M012393 |
 Celtic Sea, Challenger M012379 |
 Celtic Sea, Challenger M012380 |
 Celtic Sea, Challenger M012381 |
 Celtic Sea, Challenger M012382 |
 Celtic Sea, Challenger M012383 |
 Celtic Sea, Challenger M012384 |
 Celtic Sea, Challenger M012385 |
 Periostracum. Irish Sea M012386 |
 Irish Sea M012387 |
 Irish Sea M012388 |
 Irish Sea M012389 |
 Irish Sea M012390 |
 Irish Sea M012391 |
 Periostracum. Irish Sea M012392 |
 Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, Wales M012394 |
 Irish Sea : 52° 01’07N / 5° 45’01W : 112m M012395 |
 Periostracum. var scotica Shetland M012397 |
 var scotica Shetland M012398 |
 var scotica Shetland M012399 |
 var scotica W of Shetland : 466m M012400 |
 Periostracum. var scotica W of Shetland : 466m M012401 |
 var scotica W of Shetland : 466m M012402 |
 W of Shetland, AFEN : 332m M012403 |
 Periostracum. W of Shetland, AFEN : 332m M012404 |
 W of Shetland, AFEN 53807 : 368m M012405 |
 Periostracum. W of Shetland, AFEN 53807 : 368m M012406 |
 W of Shetland, AFEN : 418m M012407 |
 Periostracum. W of Shetland, AFEN : 418m M012408 |
 Kerrera : 56° 23.1'N / 5° 31.7'W M012410 |
 Kerrera M012411 |
 Shetland M012414 |
 Shetland M012415 |
 Shetland M012416 |
 Shetland M012417 |
 Shetland M012418 |
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NMW Image No.
Astarte sulcata (da Costa, 1778)
Crassatelloidea : Astartidae| Tebble name: | Astarte sulcata (da Costa) |
| Smith & Heppell name: | Astarte sulcata (da Costa, 1778) |
To size: To 30mm. Shell Structure: Solid. Equivalve: Equivalve. Equilateral: Relatively inequilateral, the beaks lie approximately 35% of dorsal margin length from anterior. Tumidity: Slightly tumid. Outline: Sub-ovate to rounded quadrangular, height of shell approximately 90% of the height. Posterior dorsal margin long, gently sloping, very slightly convex to almost straight; anterior dorsal margin more steeply sloping and conspicuously concave; anterior end slightly rounded; posterior end truncated/bluntly rounded; ventral margin gently rounded; lunule distinct, sunken, elongate heart-shaped with well defined, raised edges; escutcheon distinct, lanceolate, with very well defined raised edges. Beaks prosogyrous.
Sculpture: Broad, concentric, strap-like ridges, ranging in number from 25 to over 40 in adult individuals. Margin: Initially smooth, becoming crenulate in older shells. Size at which crenulations appear varies between populations. Ligament: Broad, distinct but not prominently raised, runs for approximately one third the length of the escutcheon. Hinge: Heterodont: Robust hinge plate; right valve with 2 solid, blunt cardinal teeth, the posterior tooth is thin and inconspicuous and the anterior tooth is broad; left valve with 3 blunt cardinal teeth, the 2 anterior teeth are relatively broad and solid whereas the posterior cardinal is very thin and inconspicuous. The posterior part of the right valve has a thickened ridge similar to a lateral tooth. Pallial Musculature: Entire. Periostracum: Ranges from yellowy brown to dark brown, almost black. Dull surface texture with a fine wavy linear pattern. Colour: White.
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Distribution & Ecology
Occurs all around Britain and Ireland, but rare or absent in the southern North Sea and eastern English Channel
Lives in a range of usually silty and muddy sands and gravels from the near sub-littoral towards the shelf edge and on the very upper slope, depth range 5 to 250m or more.
Depth Range
Continental Shelf (to 200m)
Continental Margin Zone (200 - 500m)
Juveniles & Similar Species
Juvenile Description
Key Features & Similar Species
Given the considerable variation in outline we consider the periostracum to be the most conclusive character for recognising A. sulcata. The pattern is of fine wavy lines and is not netted (A. elliptica) or punctate (A. montagui and A. crenata group).
Additional Comments
Within our study area there are many described varieties of A. sulcata. These varieties are based on both outline and number of ribs. We have illustrated many specimens to show variation with the primary differences depending on the gradient in outline from subovate to rounded subtrigonal. The more rounded forms appear to become more frequent in northern waters and have been assigned to var. scotica. Deeper water shells are also often more rounded or sometimes quadrate and often smaller. They may have smooth or crenulate inner margins. However, all shells that we assign to A. sulcata have a periostracum with a wavy linear pattern. This pattern is not shared with A. elliptica or the A. crenata group.
The presence of a crenulated margin is not a reliable character. Crenulations are not present in juvenile shells and the size at which they appear varies between populations. We suspect that their appearance is age related and not size related and is often associated with a thickening of the margin.
References
Listed are literature citing Astarte sulcata (da Costa, 1778). Reference containing the species Type Description is highlighted.
|
da Costa E M 1778. Historia Naturalis Testaceorum Britanniae London: Millan, White, Elmsley & Robson. 254pp, 17pls. |
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Høpner Petersen G. 2001. Studies on some Arctic and Baltic Astarte species (Bivalvia, Mollusca). Bioscience. 52: 1-71. |
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.