Description: This bivalve is an elongate oval shape, and is a glossy white, yellow or orange in colour, and may sometimes have bands of colour visible. It can reach around 2 cm in length. The right valve has a different texture to the left - there are striations running diagonally across its surface. Pallial sinus is very deep. Both valves have 2 cardinal teeth however the right only has a single anterior lateral tooth, the left only a single posterior lateral.

Habitat: Mixed sand substrates, from lower shore to shallow sublittoral.

Distribution: Found all around Britain and Ireland.

Similar Species: Could potentially be confused with other superficially similar bivalves like Donax variegatus however the distinctive texture of the right valve in Fabulina fabula should help to distinguish.

Key Identification Features:

• Glossy shell in shape of elongate oval.
• Right valve has distinctive texture of striations running diagonally across surface.

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

iNaturalist: Fabulina fabula at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Fabulina fabula

WoRMS: Fabulina fabula at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Fabulina fabula (Gmelin, 1791). AphiaID: 146907.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Mollusca; Bivalvia; Autobranchia; Heteroconchia; Euheterodonta; Imparidentia; Cardiida; Tellinoidea; Tellinidae; Tellininae; Fabulina