Tellina (Fabulina) fabula Gmelin, 1791
Tellinoidea : Tellinidae |
Tebble name: | Tellina (Fabulina) fabula (Gmelin) |
Smith & Heppell name: | Fabulina fabula (Gmelin, 1791) |
To size:
To 20mm.
Shell Structure:
Thin, brittle.
Equivalve:
Slightly inequivalve.
Equilateral:
Inequilateral, beaks just behind midline.
Tumidity:
Flattened.
Outline:
Narrowly ovate/elongate, wedge-shaped, anterior dorsal margin shorter, sloping gently to the broadly rounded anterior margin. Posterior dorsal margin straight to narrowly rounded, almost pointed posterior margin. Posterior ventral margin almost straight until midline, becoming broadly rounded. Posterior region curved to right.
Sculpture:
Fine concentric lines. In the RV lines run diagonally from right to left.
Margin:
Smooth.
Ligament:
Brown arched band extends one third the length of posterior margin on a nymph plate.
Hinge:
2 cardinals in each valve; in LV anterior is bifid, in RV posterior bifid. In LV one short tiny posterior lateral, no anterior lateral; in RV anterior lateral prominent, posterior lateral small, below and behind nymph plate.
Pallial Musculature:
Pallial sinus deep, almost to anterior adductor, peaks beneath beak. Cruciform muscles indistinct.
Periostracum:
Thin, transparent and glossy.
Colour:
White, sometimes with orange of yellow tinges.
Distribution & Ecology
Depth Range
Intertidal
Continental Shelf (to 200m)
Additional Information & Related Species
Key Features & Similar Species
Related Species
Tellinoidea : Tellinidae
References
Listed are literature citing Tellina (Fabulina) fabula Gmelin, 1791. Reference containing the species Type Description is highlighted.
Gmelin J F 1791. Carli Linnaei systema Naturae per regna tria naturae. Editio decimatertia, aucta, reformata, Vermes Testacea 1 (6). Lipsiae. 3021-3910. |
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.