General Description

This small, white, delicate, fragile shell is elongate with a somewhat rostrate posterior, a smooth shiny exterior and an internal ligament. A distinctive rib on the interior shell surface may be observed through the almost transparent shell. Shell up to 15 mm across.

Biology

This introduced species can be an indicator for eutrophic and anoxic conditions in sediment. It is endemic to the north-west Pacific Ocean including Japan and its distribution now includes California, USA and New Zealand. The first Australian record appears in the 1950s in Port Phillip Bay under a different name. This species is now well established throughout southern Australia.

Habitat

Usually in muddy sediments, from low tide to depth of 50 m.

Soft substrates

Distribution guide

North-western Pacific, USA, New Zealand, and southern Australia.

Species Group

Sea snails and shells › Bivalves

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)
Deep ( > 30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

15 mm

Diet

Organic matter

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Introduced to Australia

Species Code

MoV 1565

Conservation Status

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