Inside of valve pair of Moerella donacina
Species
Photographer / copyright holder
Steve Wilkinson
Specimen collected by Celia Pain from St. Martins Flats Isle of Scilly. Length = 22mm.
Moerella donacina
<em>Moerella donacina</em> (Linnaeus, 1758)
Inside of the left valve of Moerella donacina with deep pallial sinus highlighted
Species
Photographer / copyright holder
Steve Wilkinson
Specimen collected by Celia Pain from St. Martins Flats Isle of Scilly. Length = 22mm.
Inside of the left valve of Moerella donacina showing pallial sinus
Species
Photographer / copyright holder
Steve Wilkinson
Specimen collected by Celia Pain from St. Martins Flats Isle of Scilly. Length = 22mm.
Inside of the left valve of Moerella donacina showing pallial sinus
Species
Photographer / copyright holder
Steve Wilkinson
Specimen collected by Celia Pain from St. Martins Flats Isle of Scilly. Length = 22mm.
Left valve of Moerella donacina
Species
Photographer / copyright holder
Steve Wilkinson
Specimen collected by Celia Pain from St. Martins Flats Isle of Scilly. Length = 22mm.
Right valve of Moerella donacina
Species
Photographer / copyright holder
Steve Wilkinson
Specimen collected by Celia Pain from St. Martins Flats Isle of Scilly. Length = 22mm.
Left valve of Moerella donacina
Species
Photographer / copyright holder
Steve Wilkinson
Specimen collected by Celia Pain from St. Martins Flats Isle of Scilly. Length = 22mm.
Moerella donacina
Distribution and status
Uncommon
Norway south to the Mediterranean and into the Black Sea
Ecology and behaviour
Coarse sand / shell gravel where it feeds on organic detritus picked up through the siphon.
Similar species
- Moerella pygmaea has a less deep pallial sinus and is nearly oval in outline
Key identification features
- Pale pink radiating streaks
- Very deep pallial sinus, nearly reaching the anterior muscle scar
Taxon version key
[NBNSYS0000176499]
Sort order
10620
Taxonomic group
Marine bivalve
Fragile shell up to about 2.5cm in length. It is generally white in colour with pale pink radiating streaks. Sculpture of concentric lines. Pallial sinus very deep, nearly reaching the anterior muscle scar. Cruciform muscle scars generally not visible.