Species Account

Hiatella arctica (Linnaeus, 1758)

Hiatelloidea : Hiatellidae

Tebble name: Hiatella arctica (Linnaeus)
Smith & Heppell name: Hiatella arctica (L., 1758)

To size: To 40mm. Shell Structure: Brittle rather thin. Equivalve: Equivalve. Equilateral: Inequilateral beaks close to the anterior. Outline: Trapezoidal - modioliform; anterior greatly reduced, umbos prominent; anterior dorsal margin sloping steeply, straight or concave to narrowly rounded anterior ventral; ventral margin long, straight or sinuous; Posterior dorsal margin long diverging from ventral margin to give a broad curved or subtruncate posterior. Posterior area set of by an angular umbonal posterior ventral ridge.

Sculpture: Of irregular co-marginal ridges and lines; posterior area with two radial ribs usually ornamented with short hollow spines. Margin: Inner margin smooth. Ligament: External, sunken, about 1/4 length of posterior dorsal margin. Hinge: Hinge teeth usually worn but RV with a single peg-like cardinal; LV with two similar cardinals. Pallial Musculature: Adductor scars unequal, posterior slightly the larger; pallial line fragmented, pallial sinus deep. Periostracum: Persistent, straw coloured. Colour: Shell white.

Distribution & Ecology

A nesting species attached by a weak byssus in crevices on hard substrates and among coarse ground and Modiolus beds and in kelp holdfasts. From the low intertidal to the shelf edge and upper slope. Widespread.

Depth Range
Continental Shelf (to 200m)
Continental Margin Zone (200 - 500m)

Additional Information & Related Species

Juvenile Description

As adult but more regular in outline and with the posterior ribs and spines well preserved.

Key Features & Similar Species

Differs from H. rugosa by the wedge rather than cylindrical shape, the presence of spines on the prominent posterior ribs and the nestling habit.

Related Species

References

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

Linnaeus C 1758. Systema Naturae. Editio decima. 1. Regnum Animale Holmiae, Laurentii Salvii. 824pp.
Russell Hunter W. 1949. The structure and behaviour of “Hiatella gallicana” (Lamarck) and “H. arctica” (L.) with special reference to the bring habit. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. LXIII Part III (No. 19): 271-289.

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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Record last modified: 22/03/2016