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Colus jeffreysianus

Submitted by Steve Wilkinson on Sat, 05/12/2009 22:14
Distribution and status

Norway to Morocco.

The map provided here shows the distribution of the species based on Conchological Society data.

Ecology and behaviour

Lives on sandy or muddy bottoms on the continental shelves

Similar species
  • Colus islandicus Siphonal canal longer and narrower, shell more delicate, apex (juvenile shell) very bulbous
  • Colus gracilis Apex dilated, periostracum smooth, shell thicker
  • Colus holboelli Siphonal canal narrower, periostracum hairy, shell thin, Iceland, Shetland to Norway only
  • Colus turgidulus Siphonal canal very short, whorls inflated, suture canalised, shell thinner, Norway to Spitzbergen, Shetland and Faroes
Key identification features
  • Apex not dilated as in Colus gracilis and Colus islandicus
  • Spiral ridges on body whorl only about 30
  • Periostracum hairy, pale yellow
Taxon version key
[NBNSYS0000174669]
Sort order
2920
Taxonomic group
Marine snail
  • Read more about Colus jeffreysianus
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Shell spindle shaped, up to 60mm high. Up to 8 slightly rounded whorls, making the shell slightly turreted. Apex of the shell sharp. Sculpture of numerous spiral ridges and growth lines. Mouth oval, siphonal canal short and broad. Shell white with a bluish or pinkish tinge, covered by a slightly hairy pale yellow periostracum, the hairs may be worn off. A very variable species.

Colus gracilis

Submitted by Steve Wilkinson on Sat, 05/12/2009 22:14
Distribution and status

Norway to Portugal. Found most commonly in the north of the British Isles.

The map provided here shows the distribution of the species based on Conchological Society data.

Ecology and behaviour

Lives on sandy or muddy bottoms.

Similar species
  • Colus islandicus Siphonal canal longer and narrower, shell more delicate, apex (juvenile shell) very bulbuous
  • Colus jeffreysianus Apex sharp, periostracum hairy, shell thinner
  • Colus holboelli Siphonal canal narrower, periostracum hairy, shell thin
  • Colus turgidulus Siphonal canal very short, whorls inflated, suture canalised, shell thinner
Key identification features
  • Tall straight sided cone
  • Siphonal canal short and wide
  • Shell thick
  • Periostracum thin, yellowish
Taxon version key
[NBNSYS0000174667]
Sort order
2900
Taxonomic group
Marine snail
  • Read more about Colus gracilis
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Shell spindle shaped, solidly constructed, up to 70mm high. Whorls, up to 10, only slightly rounded, sculpture of numerous fine spiral ridges and growth lines. Apex of the shell (juvenile shell) a little enlarged. Mouth oval, siphonal canal short and broad. Shell white, covered by a yellowish periostracum, which may be worn in places. A variable species.

Clausinella fasciata

Submitted by Steve Wilkinson on Sat, 05/12/2009 22:14
Vernacular names
Banded venus
Distribution and status

Common. Widely distributed. Recorded from the North of Norway to the Iberian Peninsula and the Mediterranean.

The map provided here shows the distribution of the species based on Conchological Society data.

Ecology and behaviour

Shallow burrower in gravel (sometimes mixed with sand or mud). Has been recorded creeping into crab pots.

Similar species
  • Venus verrucosa has prominent concentric ridges broken into wart like sculpturing
  • Circomphalus casina has much more prominent concentric ridges
Key identification features
  • Inner margin crenulate
  • A few very well defined broad flat concentric rings on the valve surface
Taxon version key
[NBNSYS0000174616]
Sort order
10940
Taxonomic group
Marine bivalve
  • Read more about Clausinella fasciata

Shell solid up to 2.5cm in length. Very colourful often showing shades of white, yellow, pink, purple, red or brown with rays or streaks. Valve surface sculptured with a few solid broad ridges. Siphons are united but split at the tips.

Circomphalus casina

Submitted by Steve Wilkinson on Sat, 05/12/2009 22:14
Distribution and status

Common. Found from the south of Norway to the Iberian Peninsula and into the Mediterranean.

Ecology and behaviour

Shallow burrower in bottoms of sand, muddy sand, gravel and shell gravel. Feeds by filtering phytoplankton from the water.

Similar species
  • Venus verrucosa but concentric ridges are not broken into wart like sculpturing
  • Clausinella fasciata lacks the prominent concentric ridges
Key identification features
  • Inner margin of shell crenulate
  • Prominent concentric ridges on shell surface
  • The anterior and posterior margins on the outside of shell do not possess wart like spines.
Taxon version key
[NBNSYS0000174564]
Sort order
10910
Taxonomic group
Marine bivalve
  • Read more about Circomphalus casina

Solid shell up to about 5cm long. Dirty white to pale fawn in colour, sometimes with red brown rays. Pallial sinus small and triangular. Sculpture of concentric ribs which are sometimes broad and flattened and others sharp and foliaceous. Periostracum, if present, is chestnut brown and strongest at the edge of the shell.

Chlamys varia

Submitted by Steve Wilkinson on Sat, 05/12/2009 22:14
Vernacular names
Variegated scallop
Distribution and status

Very common. Distributed from Denmark to the Iberian Peninsula and into the Mediterranean.

The map provided here shows the distribution of the species based on Conchological Society data.

Key identification features
  • 25 to 35 similar ribs on both valves
  • Often thorn like plates on the ribs
  • The posterior ear is larger than the anterior one
Taxon version key
[NBNSYS0000174501]
Sort order
9620
Taxonomic group
Marine bivalve
  • Read more about Chlamys varia
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Solid shell up to 6.5cm in length. The colour is variable and can include white, red, pink, orange, yellow, green, brown and purple and various shades and patterns of these.The shell surface is sculptured with ribs which possess spines.

Chlamys distorta

Submitted by Steve Wilkinson on Sat, 05/12/2009 22:14
Vernacular names
Humpback scallop
Distribution and status

Common.  Distributed from northern Norway to the Iberian Peninsula and into the Mediterranean.

The map provided here shows the distribution of the species based on Conchological Society data.

Ecology and behaviour

Early in life this species lives attached by byssus threads but later it actually cements the lower valve to the rock surface. It tends to prefer confined areas including the inside of dead shells or clusters of coralline algae where it feeds by filtering phytoplankton from the water.

Key identification features
  • Two types of rib, one smaller than the other, which alternate across the shell surface
  • Juveniles: 30 to 50 ribs with spines
  • Adults: valves irregular across the surface with 60 or more radiating ribs
Taxon version key
[NBNSYS0000174494]
Sort order
9590
Taxonomic group
Marine bivalve
  • Read more about Chlamys distorta
  • Log in or register to post comments

Solid shell up to 5cm in length. The outside of the shell is white, yellow or red brown in colour, sometimes with patterns or combinations of these. The surface is sculptured with ribs numbering 30 to 50 in younger specimens to as many as 70 in older individuals. These ribs tend to have spines especially in older animals.

Chamelea gallina

Submitted by Steve Wilkinson on Sat, 05/12/2009 22:14
Distribution and status

Very common. Recorded from the North of Norway to Iberian Peninsula and the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.

The maps provided here show the distributional data, as currently stored, for C. gallina and C. striatula (based on Conchological Society data).

Ecology and behaviour

Shallow burrower in clean or muddy sand where it feeds by filtering phytoplankton.

Key identification features
  • Exterior of shell sculptured with numerous concentric ridges
  • Three red brown rays on valve surface
References and links

Backeljau, T., Bouchet, P., Gofas, S., & Bruyn, L. D. (1994). Genetic variation, systematics and distribution of the venerid clam Chamelea gallina. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 74(1), 211–223. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0025315400035773

García Souto, D., Qarkaxhija, V., & Pasantes, J. (2017). Resolving the Taxonomic Status of Chamelea gallina and C. striatula (Veneridae, Bivalvia): A Combined Molecular Cytogenetic and Phylogenetic Approach. BioMed Research International, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/7638790

 

Taxon version key
[NBNSYS0000174471]
Sort order
10930
Taxonomic group
Marine bivalve
  • Read more about Chamelea gallina

Shell solid, somewhat triangular, up to about 4cm long. Dirty white, cream or pale yellow usually with three red-brown rays. Sculpture of numerous concentric ridges. Periostracum extremely slight and thin. Inside sometimes shows purple stain around the lunule. Inner margin of shell crenulate.

Callista chione

Submitted by Steve Wilkinson on Sat, 05/12/2009 22:14
Distribution and status

Not uncommon. From SW Britain down to Iberian Oeninsula and into the Mediterranean.

The map provided here shows the distribution of the species based on Conchological Society data.

Ecology and behaviour

Shallow burrower in clean sand where it filter feeds.

Key identification features
  • Pallial sinus is broadly foliaceous
  • Stout anterior lateral tooth in the left valve
Taxon version key
[NBNSYS0000174280]
Sort order
10970
Taxonomic group
Marine bivalve
  • Read more about Callista chione

Large solid shell (up to 90mm in length). The shell is highly polished with numerous and irregular concentric rings. Reddish-brown often with a pink tinge with darker rays. The periostracum is think and resembles a coat of varnish.

Calliostoma zizyphinum

Submitted by Steve Wilkinson on Sat, 05/12/2009 22:14
Vernacular names
Painted top shell
Distribution and status

Fairly common. Found on all western European shores from the Mediterranean north to the Lofoten Islands.

The map provided here shows the distribution of the species based on Conchological Society data.

Ecology and behaviour

Grazed rock surface for vegetable matter and small coelenterates. The yellowish eggs are laid in a string of jelly attached to rock or algae. The young snails emerge from this after 7 to 10 days.

Similar species
  • Calliostoma granulatum has sides which are slightly concave? - does this work?
  • Jujubinus miliaris has a clearly reticulated sculpture on the shell surface
Key identification features
  • Conical shell with flat sides and a pointed apex
  • Breadth approximately equal to height
  • Shells spiral ridges on the last whorl are smooth
Taxon version key
[NBNSYS0000174273]
Sort order
800
Taxonomic group
Marine snail
  • Read more about Calliostoma zizyphinum

Conical shell up to 30mm in height with about ten whorls. The colour varies from yellow or brown to pink or purple and is overlaid with irregular dark purple or red markings. Pure white specimens sometimes occur and are considered by some to be a separate species. Shell surface is sculptured with 6 to 9 spiral ridges which are beaded. The animal possesses four or five pairs of epipodal tentacles.

Buccinum undatum

Submitted by Steve Wilkinson on Sat, 05/12/2009 22:14
Vernacular names
(Common) whelk; buckie; Cragen foch fwyaf (Welsh);
Distribution and status

The map provided here shows the distribution of the species based on Conchological Society data.

Ecology and behaviour

Abundant on soft bottoms. Eats worms and bivalves, live and as carrion. Egg case balls washed up on beaches.

Similar species
  • Beringius turtoni Shell white, spire thinner, tan periostracum present
  • Neptunea antiqua Shell heavier, larger, longer siphonal canal, sculpture less obvious
  • Volutopsius norwegicus Shell white, porcellaneous, spire thinner, mouth elongate oval
Key identification features
  • Sinuous costae
  • Short siphonal canal
  • Pale brown to yellowish brown shell
Taxon version key
[NBNSYS0000174225]
Sort order
2880
Taxonomic group
Marine snail
  • Read more about Buccinum undatum

Shell teardrop shaped, 7-8 rounded whorls, large adults up to 120mm. Ornament spiral lines and ridges, varies between smooth and very rough.

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