Description: Overall shape is slanted oval with uneven valves. The anterior ears are more prominent, slightly bigger and more pointed than the posterior. There is a gape in the shell. Grows up to 2.5 cm. Shells of this animal are white when young but become progressively more discoloured as they age, ending up with dirty-white to brown markings. There are 50 or more radiating ribs on the outer shell surface. In living animals there is a very distinctive thick fringe of red to bright orange tentacles protruding from the shell. This bivalve is able to swim. It is also reported to build nests from shell fragments and gravel using byssus threads.

Habitat: On coarse substrates down to around 100 m. Sometimes in Laminaria holdfasts.

Distribution: Scattered records from around Britain and Ireland. Most records are from Scottish sea lochs on west coast.

Similar Species: Could be confused with Limaria loscombi which does not gape, or Limatula subauriculata which has a different overall shape and fewer ribs.

Key Identification Features:

• Distinctive fringe of red to orange tentacles in living animals.
• Slanted oval shape to shell, with uneven valves.
• Anterior ears more prominent and pointed than posterior.
• Gape in shell.

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

iNaturalist: Limaria hians at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Limaria hians

WoRMS: Limaria hians at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Limaria hians (Gmelin, 1791). AphiaID: 140235.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Mollusca; Bivalvia; Autobranchia; Pteriomorphia; Limida; Limoidea; Limidae; Limaria