Inside of right valve
Species
Photographer / copyright holder
Steve Wilkinson
Specimen collected by Celia Pain from North Rockall Trough 56o46'N16o58'W. Length = 9mm.
Abra prismatica
<em>Abra prismatica</em> (Montagu, 1808)
Inside of left valve
Species
Photographer / copyright holder
Steve Wilkinson
Specimen collected by Celia Pain from North Rockall Trough 56o46'N16o58'W. Length = 7mm.
Outside of left valve
Species
Photographer / copyright holder
Steve Wilkinson
Specimen collected by Celia Pain from North Rockall Trough 56o46'N16o58'W. Length = 9mm.
Abra prismatica
Distribution and status
Not common. Distributed from northern Norway to the Mediterranean.
Abra prismatica
The map provided here shows the distribution of the species based on Conchological Society data held by the National Biodiversity Network (NBN). See terms and conditions.
The following datasets are included:
- Conchological Society of Great Britain & Ireland: marine mollusc records
Open an NBN Atlas interactive map of this data in a new window.
Ecology and behaviour
Burrows in sand or muddy sand where it feeds on organic detritus picked up through the siphon.
Key identification features
- Beaks clearly in one half of the shell
- Relatively elongated shell (more than twice as broad as it is tall)
References and links
Taxon details available from MolluscaBase (AphiaID: 141436):
Abra prismatica (Montagu, 1808)
For the species account provided by Marine Bivalves of the British Isles click here.
The UK National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Atlas entry for the species can be accessed via this link.
Taxon version key
[NBNSYS0000173542]
Sort order
10830
Taxonomic group
Marine bivalve
Shell up to about 2.5 cm in length. Outside and inside of shell white. Semi transparent and polished. Sculptured with very fine concentric rings. Deep pallial sinus which is partially confluent with the pallial line.