 Sandwich Bay, Kent, TR355605 M011853 |
 Instow, N. Devon, England, UK M010383 |
 Instow, N. Devon, England, UK M010384 |
 Sandwich Bay, Kent, TR355605 M011851 |
 Sandwich Bay, Kent, TR355605 M011852 |
 Sandwich Bay, Kent, TR355605 M011854 |
 Nacton Shore, Suffolk : 52 .5 / 01 14.5 M011855 |
 Nacton Shore, Suffolk : 52 .5 / 01 14.5 M011856 |
 Nacton Shore, Suffolk : 52 .5 / 01 14.5 M011857 |
 Nacton Shore, Suffolk : 52 .5 / 01 14.5 M011858 |
 Nacton Shore, Suffolk : 52 .5 / 01 14.5 M011859 |
''
NMW Image No.
Macoma balthica (Linnaeus, 1758)
Tellinoidea : Tellinidae| Tebble name: | Macoma balthica (Linnaeus) |
| Smith & Heppell name: | Macoma balthica (L., 1758) |
To size:
To 28mm.
Shell Structure:
Solid.
Equivalve:
Almost equivalve.
Equilateral:
Inequilateral, beaks central.
Tumidity:
Can be tumid.
Outline:
Ovate-trigonal. anterior dorsal margin short, broadly rounded, posterior dorsal margin almost straight to wedge-shaped, almost beak-like posterior margin. Posterior slightly bending to the right.
Contour:
Small posterior gape.
Sculpture:
Fine concentric lines and growth lines visible.
Margin:
Smooth.
Ligament:
Dark brown band extending one third of the way to posterior margin.
Hinge:
Two cardinals in each valve, in RV posterior bifid, in LV anterior bifid. No laterals.
Pallial Musculature:
Deep pallial sinus, confluent with pallial line. Shape of sinus can vary. Cruciform scars sometimes visible.
Periostracum:
Thin, beige or pale grey.
Colour:
White, some with deep dusky pink or orange internally which is visible externally on the umbonal region.
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Distribution & Ecology
A burrower in muddy sands, common in estuaries and sheltered bays. Mostly intertidal on all coasts.
Depth Range
Intertidal
Juveniles & Similar Species
Juvenile Description
Key Features & Similar Species
The somewhat inflated, solid, shell and subtrigonal outline make this species distinctive from all other tellins. The lack of lateral teeth is common to all Macoma species but the other species included here are thinner shelled with narrower outlines and are not recorded living in British waters.
Additional Comments
References
Listed are literature citing Macoma balthica (Linnaeus, 1758). Reference containing the species Type Description is highlighted.
|
Linnaeus C 1758. Systema Naturae. Editio decima. 1. Regnum Animale Holmiae, Laurentii Salvii. 824pp. |
|
Väinölä R, & Varvio SL 1989. Biosystematics of Macoma balthica in northwestern Europe In: Reproduction, Genetics and Distributions of Marine Organisms. (eds Ryland JS, Tyler PA). Olsen and Olsen, Fredensborg, Denmark.. 309-316. |
|
Väinölä, R 2003. Repeated trans-Arctic invasions in littoral bivalves: molecular zoogeography of the Macoma balthica complex. Marine Biology. 143: 935-946. |
Resources
Downloads
Weblinks
- 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.