*Images in development
Veneroidea and venerid-like clams
Hinge teeth glossoid, cardinals not radiating from beaks
Hinge veneroid, cardinals radiating from beaks
Beaks not coiled, prosogyrous, adults subsperical to elongate ovate
Shell small less than 5mm, subspherical
Escutcheon weak, lunule with faint demarcating line, posterior margin a continuous curve
Kelliella miliaris
Escutchen long and excavated, lunule strongly demarcated, posterior margin with a distinct junction between escutcheon and post ventral region
Vesicomya atlantica
Shell not modioliform, if reduced anteriorly then with at least two cardinal teeth in each valve
No more than 2 cardinals in any valve
With 3 cardinal teeth in LV, 3 or 2 in RV
2 cardinal teeth in each valve, no lateral teeth, muscle scars similar in size and shape
Diplodonta rotundata
1 or 2 cardinal teeth in each valve, lateral teeth present, anterior adductor scar elongate larger than posterior
Sculpture radial or commarginal
Ligament external lying on the dorsal margin
Escutcheon and lunule excavated with denticles along their edges
Myrtea spinifera
3 cardinal teeth in LV, 2 in RV
3 cardinal teeth in both valves
Shell subcircular, pallial sinus deep, rising into umbonal cavity
Mysia undata
Subcircular, solid becoming massive, posterior lateral present, pallial line entire
Arctica islandica
Subcircular, subovate to rhomboidal in outline, no laterals or with anterior lateral only
Hinge with 3 cardinals in each valve lacking lateral teeth
Hinge with 3 cardinals in each valve with a small anterior lateral
Subovate to rhomboidal, inner margin smooth
Subcircular to subovate shells, inner margin denticulate to crenulate
Small subovate shells <4mm, reddish brown in colour, pallial line entire, intertidal
Turtonia minuta
Subovate to rhomboidal, pallial sinus present, if shell small then usually lacking colour and pallial sinus developed to some degree
Shell oblong, narrower anteriorly, sculpture with commarginal lamellae and radial lines, pallial sinus short triangular
Irus irus
Shell oblong to rhomboidal, commarginal sculpture of lines and low ridges with or without radial elements, pallial sinus deep rounded
Subovate-rhomboidal commarginal sculpture of fine smooth ridges and growth stops
Tapes rhomboides
Subovate to rhomboidal shells with some radial sculpture
Sculpture decussate over whole shell
Commarginal sculpture dominant over weaker radial striations
Rhomboidal, posterior dorsal margin sloping gently, sculpture developed less over median area
Tapes decussatus
Subovate-rhomboidal, posterior dorsal margin sloping steeply, sculpture well developed over all of shell
Tapes philippinarum
Outline subovate, radial striations very weak, pallial sinus not confluent with pallial line
Tapes aureus
Outline rhomboidal, posterior becoming coirrugated, radial striations and grooves prominent, pallial sinus partly confluent
Tapes corrugata
Sculpture of radial ribs partially dissected by commarginal ridges
Timoclea ovata
Sculpture primarily commarginal of ridges to foliaceous
Outline subovate-trigonal or subovate
Outline subovate-trigonal, commarginal ridges, pallial sinus a slight indentation
Gouldia minima
Outline subovate, smooth, pallial sinus deep extending almost to midline
Callista chione
Inner margin denticulate, sculpture foliaceous
Inner margin smooth, sculpture of commarginal low ridges
Commarginal lamellae interupted by radial grooves, posterior becoming warty
Venus verrucosa
Posterior slope long, gently curved, sculpture low rather smooth, anterior margin slopes away from lunule
Dosinia lupinus
Posterior broadly rounded, sculpture rather rough, anterior margin rises to meet lunule
Dosinia exoleta
