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Mya truncata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Author: Steve Wilkinson on 5 December 2009

Description

Solid shell up to about 8cm in length. The outside is dirty white to fawn in colour; the inside white. The surface of the shell is sculptured with numerous concentric lines. The right valve is very slightly larger than the left and the shells gape at the hind end. The pallial sinus is broad an deep.

Key identification features

  • Posterior end of shell end abruptly
  • Lower margin of pallial line is confluent with pallial sinus
  • Large 'spoon' shaped chondrophore in the left valve and concealed chondrophore in the right valve

Ecology

It burrows in sand, sandy mud or clay to a depth of about 20cm and feeds by filtering phytoplankton.

Distribution and status

CommonDistributed from Norway south to the Bay of Biscay.

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Recorded UK distribution