PORT PHILLIP BAY


Bivalve Mollusc 

Spisula trigonella (Lamarck, 1818)

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:
Spisula
Subgenus:
Notospisula
Species:
trigonella

General Description

The shells of this species are small, quite solid, chalky and more or less triangular in shape. External coating (periostracum) brown. Hinge with grooved "teeth". Shell up to 25 mm across.

Biology

This species can be the dominant species in some locations. It is recorded by some earlier authors under a different scientific name.

Habitat

In sand and mud areas, particularly at river mouths, to depth of 1 m.

Soft substrates

Coastal shores

Distribution guide

Most states of 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

25 mm

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, Bivalve Mollusc, Spisula trigonella, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 28 Jun 2017, http://portphillipmarinelife.net.au:8098/species/5641

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