Right valve of Macoma balthica
Species
Photographer / copyright holder
Steve Wilkinson
Specimen collected by Celia Pain from Sandwich Bay, Kent. Length = 25mm.
Macoma balthica
<em>Macoma balthica</em> (Linnaeus, 1758)
Inside of left valve of Macoma balthica
Species
Photographer / copyright holder
Steve Wilkinson
Specimen collected by Celia Pain from Sandwich Bay, Kent. Length = 25mm.
Left valve of Macoma balthica
Species
Photographer / copyright holder
Steve Wilkinson
Specimen collected by Celia Pain from Sandwich Bay, Kent. Length = 25mm.
Macoma balthica
Distribution and status
CommonNorway south to the Iberian Peninsula and into the Baltic Sea.
Ecology and behaviour
Found in mud, muddy sand and muddy gravel where it can occur in densities up to about 2000 per square metre. Lies burried on its side with long sipons protruding. Able to tolerate reduced salinities and as result in often common in estuaries.
Key identification features
- Solid shell
- Globular when viewed from the end
- Lower margin of pallial line confluent with the pallial sinus
Taxon version key
[NBNSYS0000176315]
Sort order
10660
Taxonomic group
Marine bivalve
Solid shell up to about 2.5 cm in length. Colour variable including white, yellow and pink, usually with darker concentric bands. Surface smooth and glossy with very fine concentric lines.