Description: A small, brittle bivalve that reaches just over 1 cm in size. It is white or fawn coloured and has a distinctive scaly appearance to the outer surface of the valves. The periostracum is not visible. Valves gape widely. Inside of the shell is white.

Habitat: Mostly found in the intertidal but has been reported from up to around 40 m depth. Can be either free-living or attached by byssus. Usually under or on rocks.

Distribution: The only records from Britain or Ireland are from the southwest of England.

Similar Species: Unlikely to be confused with any other species.

Key Identification Features:

• Small bivalve with distinctive scaly surface texture.
• Valves gape widely.

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

iNaturalist: Galeomma turtoni at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Galeomma turtoni

WoRMS: Galeomma turtoni at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Galeomma turtoni W. Turton, 1825. AphiaID: 140017.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Mollusca; Bivalvia; Autobranchia; Heteroconchia; Euheterodonta; Imparidentia; Galeommatida; Galeommatoidea; Galeommatidae; Galeomma