Species Account

Spisula solida (Linnaeus, 1758)

Mactroidea : Mactridae

Tebble name: Spisula solida (Linnaeus)
Smith & Heppell name: Spisula solida (L., 1758)

To size: To 45mm. Shell Structure: Thick, solid. Equivalve: Equivalve. Equilateral: Almost equilateral, beaks slightly to anterior. Tumidity: Quite tumid. Outline: Trigonal. Anterior dorsal margin slightly lower than posterior to rounded anterior and posterior margins. Ventral margin broadly rounded. Contour: No gape.

Sculpture: Fine concentric lines. Growth stages clear. Margin: Smooth. Ligament: External tiny, thin, dark brown band behind beaks. Internal set in triangular chondrophore. Hinge: LV three cardinals, which extend to halfway down 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 not reaching the posterior end of chondrophore. Periostracum: Very thin, light brown. Colour: White.

Distribution & Ecology

Widely distributed on all coasts from low in the intertidal and nearshore depths. In clean sand especially on exposed coasts.

Depth Range
Intertidal
Continental Shelf (to 200m)

Additional Information & Related Species

References

Listed are literature citing Spisula solida (Linnaeus, 1758). Reference containing the species Type Description is highlighted.

Glémarec M. 1968. Distinction de deux Mactridae des Cotes Atlantiques Européennes: Spisula solida (Linné) et Spisula ovalis (Sowerby). Cahiers de biologie marins (Cah. biol. mar.). IX: 167-174.
Linnaeus C 1758. Systema Naturae. Editio decima. 1. Regnum Animale Holmiae, Laurentii Salvii. 824pp.

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: 22/03/2016