Description: A solid, wedge-shaped bivalve that reaches up to 4 cm. Colour can vary and shells can be white, yellow, brown or purple and may have lighter coloured rays radiating out from the umbones and bands of strong colour at the growth lines. Shell may be partially covered by the thin, glossy periostracum which ranges from green-yellow to yellow-brown. Right valve has 2 cardinal teeth, the anterior is short while the posterior is bifid, this is reversed in the left valve which has also thinner cardinal teeth. Right valve has 2 posterior and 1 anterior lateral tooth, left valve has 1 posterior and 1 anterior. Edge of shell is smooth.

Habitat: In sand, from the low shore to shallow sublittoral.

Distribution: Widespread around Britain and Ireland.

Similar Species: Could be confused with Donax variegatus, and the two species often co-occur, however it has marginal crenulations and a more regular shape to the shell.

Key Identification Features:

• Wedge-shaped bivalve with variable colouration.
• Often with strong bands of colour at growth lines.
• Shell margin smooth.

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

iNaturalist: Donax vittatus at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Donax vittatus

WoRMS: Donax vittatus at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Donax vittatus (da Costa, 1778). AphiaID: 139604.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Mollusca; Bivalvia; Autobranchia; Heteroconchia; Euheterodonta; Imparidentia; Cardiida; Tellinoidea; Donacidae; Donax