Ensis ensis

Inside of right valve annotated to show distance of adductor muscle from pallial line

Species

Ensis ensis

Photographer / copyright holder

Steve Wilkinson

Specimen collected by Jan Light from Camber Sands, Sussex. Length = 110mm.

Inside of right valve annotated to show position of foot retractor muscle relative to ligament (indiciated by the double headed arrow)

Species

Ensis ensis

Photographer / copyright holder

Steve Wilkinson

Specimen collected by Jan Light from Camber Sands, Sussex. Length = 110mm.

Inside of right valve

Species

Ensis ensis

Photographer / copyright holder

Steve Wilkinson

Specimen collected by Jan Light from Camber Sands, Sussex. Length = 110mm.

Inside of left valve

Species

Ensis ensis

Photographer / copyright holder

Steve Wilkinson

Specimen collected by Jan Light from Camber Sands, Sussex. Length = 110mm.

Outside of right valve

Species

Ensis ensis

Photographer / copyright holder

Steve Wilkinson

Specimen collected by Jan Light from Camber Sands, Sussex. Length = 110mm.

Outside of left valve

Species

Ensis ensis

Photographer / copyright holder

Steve Wilkinson

Specimen collected by Jan Light from Camber Sands, Sussex. Length = 110mm.

Exterior and interior of left valve annotated to show pallial sinus and muscle scars

Species

Ensis ensis

Photographer / copyright holder

Steve Wilkinson

Specimen collected by Jan Light from Camber Sands, Sussex. Length = 110mm.

Distribution and status

Recorded from the Norwegian Sea and Baltic to the Iberian Peninsula and into the Mediterranean.

Ecology and behaviour

Burrows in fine or silty sand. Remains close to the surface while submerged in water, retreating to a depth of up to half a metre when exposed.

Similar species

Ensis siliqua is almost straight in comparison
Ensis arcuatus is almost straight in comparison

Key identification features

Both edges of the shell curved to the same extent
Relatively slender shell
Posterior adductor about 1.5 times its own length from pallial sinus
Foot retractor muscle posterior to ligament insertion

Taxon version key

[NBNSYS0000175135]

Sort order

10510

Taxonomic group

Marine bivalve

Read more about Ensis ensis
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Slender shell up to about 10cm in length. Edges curved and parallel, tapering towards the posterior end. Creamy white in colour with red-brown streaks streaks. Periostracum dark green to yellow-green. Shell sculptured with very fine horizontal and vertical lines with clear growth lines. Foot is reddish in colour.