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Mactra stultorum (Linnaeus, 1758)

Author: Steve Wilkinson on 5 December 2009

Description

Brittle, glossy shell up to about 5cm in length. It is cream in colour with a purple tint and brown radiating rays. The inside is white or purple. The pallial sinus is relatively deep.

Key identification features

  • Anterior cardinal tooth of the right valve is almost parallel to the hinge line
  • Thin septum separates the two parts of the ligament
  • Lateral teeth are not serrated

Similar species

  • Mactra glauca has the anterior cardinal tooth in right valve not parallel to hinge line

Ecology

Burrows in clean sand where it filter feeds phytoplankton

Distribution and status

Common

Distributed from the Norwegian Sea to the Iberian Peninsula and into the Mediterranean and Black Seas.

Outside of right valve
Image ©

Steve Wilkinson

Additional images

  • Outside of left valve
  • Outside of right valve
  • Outside of left valve
  • Outside of right valve
  • Outside of left valve
  • Outside of left valve
  • Outside of left valve
  • Outside of right valve
  • Outside of right valve
  • Inside of left valve
  • Inside of right valve
  • Inside of left valve
  • Hinge detail of left valve
  • Hinge detail of left valve
  • Hinge detail of right valve
  • Hinge detail of left valve
  • Hinge detail of right valve
  • Hinge detail of right valve with angle of anterior cardinal tooth relative to hinge line highlighted in red

All images copyright of the photographer - see "View image details".

Recorded UK distribution