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      • Issue 1
        • Collecting East African marine snails
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      • Issue 2
        • Collecting localities in the Cape Province
        • Field meeting Walton-on-Naze
        • Herons, Moorhens and Rats feeding on Anodonta anatina
        • Introduction to molluscan taxonomy 1) Species and subspecies
        • Volutes
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        • Introduction to molluscan taxonomy 2) The significance of types
        • Land and freshwater snails: additions to the British List since 1926
        • Littoral collecting in the Scilly Isles
        • Snails in a Sussex garden
      • Issue 4
        • Biographical Note
        • Introduction to molluscan taxonomy 3) The genus
        • Learning in Nucella lapillus
        • Mollusca on Liverpool bomb sites
        • The Cardiacea
        • The Strombidae
      • Issue 5
        • A suggested method for extracting the animals from small high-spired shells
        • Commensual crabs in Mytilus edulis
        • Field meeting at Shell Bay, Dorset
        • Field meeting at West Runton and Overstrand
        • Introduction to molluscan taxonomy 4) Taxonomic history
        • J.G. Bruguiere 1750-98
      • Issue 6
        • A little more biography
        • Field meeting at Amberley
        • Field meeting to Grasswood, Yorkshire May 1962
        • Marine collecting in New Zealand
        • Marine mollusca of Carnac, Brittany
        • On the use and misuse of common names
        • Strand shells after Cornish gales
        • Trochus magus in the Isle of Wight
      • Issue 7
        • 35 years collecting
        • Field meeting Epping Forest
        • Field meeting White Downs
        • More strand shells after Cornish gales
        • Natural History Museum at Craster
        • Notes on the pholadidae
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        • Field meeting at Norwich
        • Geology for conchologists - Introduction
        • Geology for conchologists - The last 15,000 years
        • The Strophocheilidae
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        • David Landsborough
        • Field meeting at Albury
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        • Still more autobiography
        • The Viviparidae
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Acanthocardia aculeata

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 05/12/2009 22:14
Vernacular names
Spiny cockle, Red nose
Distribution and status

Rare. Occurs from the English Channel south to Morocco and into the Mediterranean. Rarely found on the north side of the English Channel.

Acanthocardia aculeata

The map provided here shows the distribution of the species based on Conchological Society data held by the National Biodiversity Network (NBN). See terms and conditions.

The following datasets are included:

  • Conchological Society of Great Britain & Ireland: marine mollusc records

Open an NBN Atlas interactive map of this data in a new window.

Ecology and behaviour

Lives in clean and muddy sand 10m to 100m.

Key identification features
  • Ribs are decorated with spines (though may be worn)
  • Fine straight striations between the ribs continuing from the channels between the ribs to about half way up the sides of the ribs
References and links

Taxon details available from MolluscaBase (AphiaID 138990):

Acanthocardia aculeata (Linnaeus, 1758)

For the species account provided by Marine Bivalves of the British Isles click here.

The UK NBN Atlas entry for the species can be accessed via this link.

Taxon version key
[NBNSYS0000173547]
Sort order
10240
Taxonomic group
Marine bivalve
  • Read more about Acanthocardia aculeata

Shell up to 100mm long, 90mm high, 85mm across, juvenile shells round or oval, noticeably longer than high, larger shells becoming plumper and more rhombic with age, developing an angulation or kee

Abra tenuis

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

Frequent. Distributed from the UK south to the Iberian Peninsula and into the Mediterranean.

Abra tenuis

The map provided here shows the distribution of the species based on Conchological Society data held by the National Biodiversity Network (NBN). See terms and conditions.

The following datasets are included:

  • Conchological Society of Great Britain & Ireland: marine mollusc records

Open an NBN Atlas interactive map of this data in a new window.

Ecology and behaviour

Found in intertidal mud or clay particularly in areas of low salinity such as estuaries. Feeds on organic detritus picked up through the siphon.

Key identification features
  • Beaks approximately on midline of shell
  • Almost triangular in outline
References and links

Taxon details available from MolluscaBase (AphiaID: 141439):

Abra tenuis (Montagu, 1803)

For the species account provided by Marine Bivalves of the British Isles click here.

The UK National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Atlas entry for the species can be accessed via this link.

Taxon version key
[NBNSYS0000173543]
Sort order
10840
Taxonomic group
Marine bivalve
  • Read more about Abra tenuis

Brittle shell up to about 1cm in length. Dirty white in colour and appears iridescent. The surface is sculptured with fine concentric rings. Has a deep pallial sinus which is partially confluent with the pallial line.

Abra prismatica

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

Not common. Distributed from northern Norway to the Mediterranean.

Abra prismatica

The map provided here shows the distribution of the species based on Conchological Society data held by the National Biodiversity Network (NBN). See terms and conditions.

The following datasets are included:

  • Conchological Society of Great Britain & Ireland: marine mollusc records

Open an NBN Atlas interactive map of this data in a new window.

Ecology and behaviour

Burrows in sand or muddy sand where it feeds on organic detritus picked up through the siphon.

Key identification features
  • Beaks clearly in one half of the shell
  • Relatively elongated shell (more than twice as broad as it is tall)
References and links

Taxon details available from MolluscaBase (AphiaID: 141436):

Abra prismatica (Montagu, 1808)

For the species account provided by Marine Bivalves of the British Isles click here.

The UK National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Atlas entry for the species can be accessed via this link.

Taxon version key
[NBNSYS0000173542]
Sort order
10830
Taxonomic group
Marine bivalve
  • Read more about Abra prismatica

Shell up to about 2.5 cm in length. Outside and inside of shell white. Semi transparent and polished. Sculptured with very fine concentric rings. Deep pallial sinus which is partially confluent with the pallial line.

Abra nitida

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

Common but local. Distributed from Northern Norway to the Mediterranean.

Abra nitida

The map provided here shows the distribution of the species based on Conchological Society data held by the National Biodiversity Network (NBN). See terms and conditions.

The following datasets are included:

  • Conchological Society of Great Britain & Ireland: marine mollusc records

Open an NBN Atlas interactive map of this data in a new window.

Ecology and behaviour

Lives in muddy / muddy sand / muddy gravel bottoms where it feeds on organic detritus picked up through the siphon.

Key identification features
  • Beaks positioned posteriorly, inequilateral;
  • Oval in outline, posterior margin somewhat angulate.
References and links

Taxon details available from MolluscaBase (AphiaID: 141435):

Abra nitida (O. F. Müller, 1776)

For the species account provided by Marine Bivalves of the British Isles click here.

The UK NBN Atlas entry for the species can be accessed via this link.

Taxon version key
[NHMSYS0021054813]
Sort order
10820
Taxonomic group
Marine bivalve
  • Read more about Abra nitida

Shell up to just over 1cm long. Glossy, pearl white and sometimes translucent. Sculpture - fine concentric rings. Interior of shell translucent and glossy. Deep pallial sinus which is partially confluent with the pallial line.

Abra alba

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

Common. Found from the Norwegian Sea and the Baltic down to the Iberian Peninsula and into the Mediterranean and Black Seas.

Abra alba

The map provided here shows the distribution of the species based on Conchological Society data held by the National Biodiversity Network (NBN). See terms and conditions.

The following datasets are included:

  • Conchological Society of Great Britain & Ireland: marine mollusc records

Open an NBN Atlas interactive map of this data in a new window.

Ecology and behaviour

Long siphons allow this species to burrow relatively deeply for its size (about 7cm down) in mud, silty sand and soft muddy gravel. Feeds on organic detritus picked up through the siphon. Can occur in high densities.

Key identification features
  • Beaks clearly in one half of the shell
  • Broadly oval in outline
References and links

Taxon details available from MolluscaBase (AphiaID 141433):

Abra alba (W. Wood, 1802)

For the species account provided by Marine Bivalves of the British Isles click here.

The UK NBN Atlas entry for the species can be accessed via this link.

Taxon version key
[NBNSYS0000173540]
Sort order
10800
Taxonomic group
Marine bivalve
  • Read more about Abra alba

Brittle shell up to about 2cm in length. Interior and exterior of shell white and polished. Sculpture of fine concentric rings. Deep pallial sinus which is partially confluent with the pallial line.

Lasaea adansoni

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

CommonDistributed from Norway to the Iberian Peninsula and into the Mediterranean.

Ecology and behaviour

Lives attached by byssus threads within crevices such as barnacle tests, algal holdfasts and particularly amongst Lichinia tufts where it may be abundant.

Key identification features
  • Red tint to shell
  • Surface of the shell sculptured with concentric and a few faint radiating lines
  • Presence of lateral teeth on a broad hinge plate
Taxon version key
[NBNSYS0000041446]
Sort order
9970
Taxonomic group
Marine bivalve
  • Read more about Lasaea adansoni

Fragile shell up to 3mm in length. It is coloured dirty white with a red tint both inside and outside. The surface of the shell is sculptured with concentric and raditaing lines.

Atrina fragilis

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

Rare. Distributed from Britain south to the Iberian Peninsula

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

Ecology and behaviour

Lives with pointed end buried in bottoms of mud to gravel where it attaches itself with byssus threads. Tend to be quite a gregarios species

Key identification features
  • Very distinctive triangular outline
  • Two adductor muscle scars
Taxon version key
[NBNSYS0000040786]
Sort order
9450
Taxonomic group
Marine bivalve
  • Read more about Atrina fragilis

Brittle shell up to 30cm in length. It is light to dark brown in colour both inside and outside but inside is glossy. The surface is sculptured with concentric lines and 8 to 12 radiating ribs. There are no teeth on the hinge.

Ovatella myosotis

Submitted by Steve Wilkinson on Sat, 05/12/2009 22:14
Ecology and behaviour

Found in muddy, sheltered places at high-tide level in brackish estuaries and saltmarsh usually out of water.

Taxon version key
[NBNSYS0000006622]
Sort order
520
Taxonomic group
Land snail
  • Read more about Ovatella myosotis

6-8mm

Boettgerilla pallens

Submitted by Pryce Buckle on Sat, 28/11/2009 12:12
Distribution and status

Common. Widespread and in woods in Eastern Europe.

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

Ecology and behaviour

Mostly in gardens and parks in UK, probably recently introduced in the west.

Key identification features

Very thin, pale and almost worm-like when fully extended.

Taxon version key
[NBNSYS0000006725]
  • Read more about Boettgerilla pallens

Boettgerilla pallens Simroth 1912

Small to medium slug, extended length 3 – 4 cm. Pale translucent greyish-yellow, with keel from tip of tail right up to edge of the mantle; back and head darker bluish-grey. Very narrow, almost worm-like, when fully extended. Sole pale yellow, mucus colourless.

Tandonia sowerbyi

Submitted by Pryce Buckle on Sat, 28/11/2009 12:07
Distribution and status

Common

Ecology and behaviour

Gardens, hedges and agricultural land. Tends to be subterranean, and is a notable pest.

Similar species
  • Tandonia budapestensis
Taxon version key
[NHMSYS0020528291]
  • Read more about Tandonia sowerbyi

Tandonia sowerbyi (Férussac1823)

Medium to large slug – extended length 6 – 7.5 cm. Body pale brownish-grey speckled with black, with grooves between tubercles also pigmented. Pneumostome with pale orange rim. Keel lighter than body, usually yellow or orange, crinkled when animal is contracted, not truncate. Sole whitish, mucus thick, yellowish and sticky. Some colour variants occur, and the keel is occasionally the same colour as the body.

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