PORT PHILLIP BAY


Pure Trough Shell 

Mactra pura Reeve, 1854

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Shells of this family are medium to large, some thin for their size, smooth, trigonal in shape, ventral margin rounded, inflated. Shell exterior often smooth, if sculpture present it is concentric. Hinge is strong, left valve with single inverted V-shaped cardinal, right valve with two dorsally joined cardinals, laterals present. Ligament internal, sits in spoon shaped depression in hinge. Adductor muscle scars are approximately equal, pallial sinus well developed.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Mollusca
Subphylum:
Conchifera
Class:
Bivalvia
Subclass:
Heterodonta
Order:
Veneroida
Superfamily:
Mactroidea
Family:
Mactridae
Subfamily:
Mactrinae
Genus:
Mactra
Subgenus:
Mactra
Species:
pura

General Description

The shell of this species is large, solid, inflated and triangular. Coloured white, with a light brown silky coating (periostracum) which is more evident near valve margins. Shell up to 6 cm across.

Biology

This species burrows in clean sand.

Habitat

In sand, from low tide to depth of 20 m.

Soft substrates

Coastal shores

Distribution guide

Southern Australia.

Species Group

Sea snails and shells › Bivalves

Depth

Shore (0-1 m)
Shallow (1-30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

6 cm

Diet

Organic matter

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Recorded in Australia

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Not listed

Author

article author Boyd, S.

Sue Boyd is an Honorary Associate in marine invertebrates at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Boyd, S., 2011, Pure Trough Shell, Mactra pura, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 25 Feb 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/5621

Text: creative commons cc by licence