Description: Shell is solid and broadly oval in outline. Can grow up to 2.5 cm, and rarely can actually exceed this. It is white to cream in colour with raised concentric ridges, which at times almost form tubercles, and fine concentric lines on the outer surface of the shell. 1 cardinal tooth in right valve, and 1 anterior and posterior lateral. 2 cardinal teeth in left valve and at least 1 anterior and posterior lateral.

Habitat: Soft mud, silty sand or silty gravel, from around 5-100 m depth.

Distribution: Found around most coasts of Britain and Ireland but seems mostly absent from the west coast of Ireland and east coast of Britain.

Similar Species: Could be confused with Lucinoma borealis or Loripes orbiculatus.

Key Identification Features:

• Raised concentric ridges that occasionally form tubercles.
• 1 cardinal tooth in right valve.
• 2 cardinal teeth in left valve.

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

iNaturalist: Myrtea spinifera at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Myrtea spinifera

WoRMS: Myrtea spinifera at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Myrtea spinifera (Montagu, 1803). AphiaID: 140287.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Mollusca; Bivalvia; Autobranchia; Heteroconchia; Euheterodonta; Imparidentia; Lucinida; Lucinoidea; Lucinidae; Myrteinae; Myrtea