Description: A small solid bivalve with a broadly triangular outline, which reaches up to around 19 mm. Main colour is white to grey. Shell may be partially or almost fully covered by the matt olive-green to yellow periostracum. Occasionally this may have blotches of red. There are radiating ribs and concentric lines visible on the outer surface of each valve. There is a group of 22-29 teeth at the anterior of the hinge line and a group of 12-14 at the posterior.

Habitat: Mud, muddy sand or clay from around 8 m - 180 m.

Distribution: Found all around Britain and Ireland but most records concentrated on Irish Sea coasts, and the area north and south of this.

Similar Species: Could be confused with Nucula nucleus or Nucula nitidosa.

Key Identification Features:

• White to grey with matt olive green to yellow periostracum.
• 22-29 anterior teeth on hinge line.
• 12-14 posterior teeth on hinge line.

Distribution Map from NBN: Nucula sulcata at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Nucula sulcata at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Nucula sulcata

WoRMS: Nucula sulcata at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Nucula sulcata Bronn, 1831. AphiaID: 140592.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Mollusca; Bivalvia; Protobranchia; Nuculida; Nuculoidea; Nuculidae; Nucula