Anomia ephippium

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

Fragile shell up to 6.5cm in length. The outside is white, sometimes tinged with pink, in colour. The inside is a similar colour but pearly in appearance. The surface has a 'scaley' sculpture.

Key identification features

Upper valve has three distinct muscle scars

Ecology and behaviour

Lives attached to stones or other shells by a calcified byssus through a hole in lower valve. Filter feeds phytoplankton,

Distribution and status

Common. Distributed from the north of Norway south to the Mediterranean.

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