Species Account

Epilepton clarkiae (Clark, 1852)

Galeommatoidea : Montacutidae

Tebble name: Epilepton clarkiae (Clark)
Smith & Heppell name: Epilepton clarkiae (Clark, 1852)

To size: To 2.5mm. Shell Structure: Thin, opaque. Equivalve: Equivalve. Equilateral: Inequilateral, beaks behind the midline. Tumidity: Somewhat compressed, becoming discoid. Outline: Subovate dorsally subtrigonal, anteriorly expanded; dorsal margins sloping equally straight; remainder rounded with posterior a little narrower than anterior.

Sculpture: Of co-marginal lines and growth stops, usually with radial linear inclusions within the shell structure. Margin: Inner margin smooth. Ligament: Internal in a deep pit below and slightly behind beaks. Hinge: RV with single large anterior and posterior laterals and a prominent anterior “cardinal” tooth; LV with laterals as extensions of the margins and an anterior socket. Pallial Musculature: Indistinct. Colour: Dirty white to dirty cream.

Distribution & Ecology

Commensal with sipunculans, most commonly found with Phascolosoma granulata but also with Phascolion strombi. Intertidal and sublittoral on south and west coasts but occasional records to the northwest.

Depth Range
Intertidal
Continental Shelf (to 200m)

Additional Information & Related Species

References

Listed are literature citing Epilepton clarkiae (Clark, 1852). Reference containing the species Type Description is highlighted.

Clark W 1852. On a new British species of Lepton. Annals and magazine of natural History. (2)9: 191-192.
Delongueville C. & Scaillet R. 1999. Relevé de l’association de Eplilepton clarkiae (W. Clark, 1852) et de Mioerycina coarctata (S.V. Wood, 1851) avec Phascolion strombi (Montagu, 1804) en Méditerranée. Apex. 14 (2): 29-32.
Jespersen A, Lutzen J & Oliver P G 2007. Morphology, biology and systematic position of Epilepton clarkiae (Clark 1852) (Galeommatoidea: Montacutidae) a bivalve commensal with sipunculans. Journal of Conchology. 4: 391.
Kallonas M, Zenetos A & Gofas S 1999. Notes on the Ecology and Distribution of Microbivalvia in Greek Waters. La Conchiglia. 291: 11-20.
Van Aartsen JJ 1996. Galeommatacea and Cyamiacea Part II. La Conchiglia. 281: 27-53, + 61.
Van Aartsen JJ 1996. Galeommatacea and Cyamiacea. La Conchiglia. 279: 31-36, + 61.

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: 17/05/2016