Left valve of Arcopella balaustina
Species
Photographer / copyright holder
Steve Wilkinson
Specimen collected by Anjioy from Tuscan Islands. Length = 12mm.
Arcopella balaustina
<em>Arcopella balaustina</em> (Linnaeus, 1758)
Right valve of Arcopella balaustina
Species
Photographer / copyright holder
Steve Wilkinson
Specimen collected by Anjioy from Tuscan Islands. Length = 12mm.
Inside of right valve of Arcopella balaustina
Species
Photographer / copyright holder
Steve Wilkinson
Specimen collected by Anjioy from Tuscan Islands. Length = 12mm.
Arcopella balaustina
Distribution and status
Rare. Recorded from Britain south to the Iberian Peninsula and into the Mediterranean.
The map provided here shows the distribution of the species based on Conchological Society data.
Note, MolluscaBase indicates that Arcopella balaustina (Linnaeus, 1758) is the currently accepted name for this species. Arcopagia balaustina (Linnaeus, 1758) is therefore considered a synonym at present.
Ecology and behaviour
Burrows in fine sand where it feeds on organic detritus picked up through the siphon.
Similar species
- Arcopagia crassa has a much thicker shell
Key identification features
- Lower margin of pallial sinus not confluent with pallial line
- Brittle oval shell
Taxon version key
[NBNSYS0000179354]
Sort order
10600
Taxonomic group
Marine bivalve
Brittle shell up to about 2cm in length. White or pale yellow in colour sometimes with pink or red-brown radiating rays. Inside of shell is polished and tinged with orange. Exterior of shell is sculptured with prominent concentric ridges.