Species Account

Acanthocardia echinata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Cardioidea : Cardiidae

Tebble name: Acanthocardia echinata (Linnaeus)
Smith & Heppell name: Acanthocardia echinata (L., 1758)

To size: To 75mm. Shell Structure: Robust. Equivalve: Equivalve. Equilateral: Slightly inequilateral, beaks just infront of midline. Tumidity: Inflated. Outline: Broadly oval posterior margin becoming almost straight in larger shells. Contour: Umbonate, posterior angle weak.

Sculpture: 18-22 strong radial ribs, each carrying a row of narrow spines arising from the midline of the rib. In early stages, the triangular shaped spines are joined to each other giving a serrated profile but with growth the spines often appear separated. On the anterior and middle area the spines are more conical with the upper faces excavated and the tips bending to the posterior; on the posterior the spines remain triangular. Overall with a distinct concentric rugose sculpture most prominent in interspaces. Margin: Deeply crenulated, interlocking ends of ribs and interspaces. Ligament: External, a prominent raised band set on a prominent nymph. Hinge: RV with 2 cardinals the posterior slightly the larger; 2 anterior and 1 posterior laterals: LV with 2 cardinals and single anterior and posterior laterals. Pallial Musculature: Pallial line entire. Periostracum: Thin. Colour: White, straw and brown often in alternating broad concentric bands.

Distribution & Ecology

Widespread across the shelf

Depth Range
Continental Shelf (to 200m)

Additional Information & Related Species

References

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

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: 17/05/2016