Species Account

Goodallia triangularis (Montagu, 1803)

Crassatelloidea : Astartidae

Tebble name: Astarte triangularis (Montagu)
Smith & Heppell name: Goodallia triangularis (Montagu, 1803)

To size: 4mm maximum. Shell Structure: Solid. Equivalve: Equivalve. Equilateral: Slightly inequilateral, the beaks lie approximately 40% of dorsal margin length from anterior. Tumidity: Moderately tumid. Outline: Rounded triangular, slightly pyriform, width of shell approximately 90% of height. Dorsal margins steeply sloping, gently rounded convex posteriorly, and slightly concave anteriorly; anterior and posterior end rounded; ventral margin deeply rounded; lunule indistinct, elongate heart-shaped with very poorly defined edges; escutcheon lanceolate, with very poorly defined edges. Beaks prosogyrous. Contour: Smooth.

Sculpture: Extremely fine concentric lines and coarser, irregular growth stops. Margin: Strongly crenulate in adults smooth in juveniles. Ligament: External, very short, narrow but distinct. Hinge: Heterodont: Robust hinge plate; right valve with 2 solid, blunt cardinal teeth, the posterior tooth is thin and the anterior tooth is broad; left valve with 2 solid, blunt cardinal teeth. The hinge of both valves has a thickened ridge similar to a lateral tooth, lying posterior in the right valve and anterior in the left. Pallial Musculature: Entire. Periostracum: Usually very pale yellow through to orange, occasionally dark brown. Surface appears smooth and polished with a silky surface texture. Tiny holes or pits visible under very high magnification. Colour: White.

Distribution & Ecology

Occurs all around Britain and Ireland from the near sub-littoral towards the shelf edge – depth range 5-150m+

Characteristically lives in clean sand, gravel and shell gravel

Depth Range
Continental Shelf (to 200m)

Additional Information & Related Species

References

Listed are literature citing Goodallia triangularis (Montagu, 1803). Reference containing the species Type Description is highlighted.

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.

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.

Record last modified: 15/01/2014