Description: Shell ranges from solid to brittle, broadly oval in outline rising to a blunt point at the umbones. It can reach just over 3 cm in length although is more commonly smaller. It is dirty white with a dark green to brown periostracum and fine concentric lines on the outer surface of the shell. Right valve with 2 cardinal teeth, 2 anterior and 2 posterior lateral teeth. Left valve with 3 cardinal teeth, 2 of which join to form a pointed projection, 1 anterior and 1 posterior lateral tooth. Upper and lower section of left valve lateral teeth and inner sections of right valve lateral teeth are serrated.

Habitat: Muddy sand, fine sand, muddy gravel and shelly gravel down to around 100 m.

Distribution: Found all around Britain and Ireland.

Similar Species: Could be confused with Spisula solida or Spisula subtruncata.

Key Identification Features:

• Broadly oval outline, bluntly pointed at umbones.
• Right valve with 2 cardinal teeth, 2 anterior laterals and 2 posterior laterals.
• Left valve with 3 cardinal teeth, 1 anterior laterals and 1 posterior lateral.
• 2 of the cardinal teeth in left valve join to form a pointed projection.

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

iNaturalist: Spisula elliptica at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Spisula elliptica

WoRMS: Spisula elliptica at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Spisula elliptica (T. Brown, 1827). AphiaID: 140300.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Mollusca; Bivalvia; Autobranchia; Heteroconchia; Euheterodonta; Imparidentia; Venerida; Mactroidea; Mactridae; Mactrinae; Spisula