PORT PHILLIP BAY


King's Cockle 

Notocallista kingii (Gray, 1827)

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

This very large family includes over 500 species worldwide and are found in almost all seas. The family is characterised by a strong hinge with three cardinal teeth in each valve, anterior laterals may be present, but are weak. Shells of this family are moderate to large, often thick and solid, vary greatly in shape from elongate, ovate and quite flattened, to orbicular and inflated. Umbones are approximately median, ligament elongate, external. Shell exterior usually smooth or with concentric sculpture, a few with radial ribs. Periostracum is variable, maybe absent. Adductor muscle scars usually more or less equal, pallial sinus present in most venerids, often shallow. Byssus is usually absent in adults.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Mollusca
Subphylum:
Conchifera
Class:
Bivalvia
Subclass:
Heterodonta
Order:
Veneroida
Superfamily:
Veneroidea
Family:
Veneridae
Genus:
Notocallista
Species:
kingii

General Description

The shells of this species are solid and quite heavy. Exterior shell colour variable, from more or less cream with a few brown markings, to a solid brown broken only by a few paler radial rays. Shell up to 5 cm across.

Biology

Two related but smaller species also live in Victorian waters and can be difficult to assign to a species. They are preyed upon by sea snails (gastropod species in the family Naticidae and Muricidae), sea stars and fish.

Habitat

In sand, to depth of 10 m.

Soft substrates

Distribution guide

South-eastern Australia.

Species Group

Sea snails and shells › Bivalves

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

5 cm

Diet

Organic matter

Commercial Species

No

Species Code

MoV 2653

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, King's Cockle, Notocallista kingii, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 25 Feb 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/5628

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