Description: Bivalve with a solid shell, roughly triangular shell. It can reach up to 2.5 cm in length. It is dirty white with a brown periostracum and fine concentric lines and grooves on the outer surface of the shell, some specimens may lack grooves and have only lines. Growth stages should be clearly visible. 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. Pallial sinus is shallow.

Habitat: Silty to muddy sand, from the intertidal to shallow sublittoral.

Distribution: Found all around Britain and Ireland.

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

Key Identification Features:

• Solid, broadly triangular shell.
• Lines and grooves (occasionally just lines) on outer surface.
• 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 subtruncata at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Spisula subtruncata at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Spisula subtruncata

WoRMS: Spisula subtruncata at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Spisula subtruncata (da Costa, 1778). AphiaID: 140302.

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