Spisula elliptica (Brown, 1827)
Mactroidea : Mactridae |
| Tebble name: | Spisula elliptica (Brown) |
| Smith & Heppell name: | Spisula elliptica (Brown, 1827) |
To size: To 32mm. Shell Structure: Solid, brittle. Equivalve: Equivalve. Equilateral: Inequilateral, beaks just to the anterior. Tumidity: Fairly tumid. Outline: Ovate-trigonal. Anterior dorsal margin slightly shorter and broadly curved to angular anterior margin. Posterior dorsal margin almost straight, slightly convex to the angular posterior margin which is slightly lower than the anterior. Ventral margin broadly curved. Contour: No gape. Anterior dorsal area demarcated by a protruding lunule.
Sculpture: Concentric lines. Margin: Smooth. Ligament: External tiny, thin, dark brown band behind beaks. Internal set in triangular chondrophore. Hinge: LV three cardinals, extend for most of the height of the hinge plate, two set in an inverted v-shape, the third just behind then, small and fragile. Single anterior and posterior laterals. RV two cardinals and double anterior and posterior laterals. Upper and lower surfaces of LV laterals and inner surfaces of RV laterals are serrated. Pallial Musculature: Shallow pallial sinus reaching to posterior end of chondrophore. Periostracum: Thin, pale brown to dark brown. Colour: White to cream.
Distribution & Ecology
Depth Range
Continental Shelf (to 200m)
Additional Information & Related Species
Related Species
Mactroidea : Mactridae
References
Listed are literature citing Spisula elliptica (Brown, 1827). Reference containing the species Type Description is highlighted.
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Brown T 1827. Illustrations of the recent conchology of Great Britain and Ireland WH & D Lizars, Edinburgh. 125pp, 52pls. |
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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