Species Account

Saxicavella jeffreysi Winckworth, 1930

Galeommatoidea : Basterotiidae

Tebble name: Saxicavella jeffreysi Winckworth
Smith & Heppell name: Saxicavella jeffreysi Winckworth, 1930

To size: To 10mm. Shell Structure: Thin, rather fragile. Equivalve: Equivalve. Equilateral: Inequilateral, beaks distinctly in front of midline. Tumidity: Not inflated. Outline: Obliquely rhomboidal, anterior much narrower than posterior, posterior dorsal margin distinct rather straight, posterior margin obliquely subtruncate, ventral margin almost straight inclined to narrowly rounded anterior. Contour: Posterior area set off by oblique rounded ridge running from umbo to post-ventral margin (this much stronger in juvenile shells). Anterior similar but less distinct.

Sculpture: Of fine concentric lines and growth stops. Margin: Inner margin smooth. Ligament: External as a narrow band behind the beaks. Hinge: RV with a flange-like cardinal tooth fitting into corresponding depression in LV. Pallial Musculature: Pallial line wide, pallial sinus absent. Periostracum: Often persistent, yellowish to pale brown. Colour: Dirty white.

Distribution & Ecology

Of wide but sporadic occurrence across the entire shelf. North Sea records are of valves only. Lives in mud and muddy sand.

Depth Range
Continental Shelf (to 200m)

Additional Information & Related Species

Related Species

Galeommatoidea : Basterotiidae

References

Listed are literature citing Saxicavella jeffreysi Winckworth, 1930. Reference containing the species Type Description is highlighted.

Van Aartsen JJ & Bogi C 1998. European Marine Mollusca: Notes on less well-known species. XIV. Saxicavella angulata (S.V. Wood, 1857). La Conchiglia. 289: 56-58.
Winckworth R 1930. Notes on nomenclature 5. Some new names for British marine bivalves. Proceedings of the Malacological Society of London. 19: 14-15.

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