Description: This solid bivalve has an overall elongate oval shape and reaches up to 6 cm. The outer surface is a glossy white, cream or yellow and sometimes has red-brown to light purple streaks. Outer surface may be covered in part by the thick dark brown to green-brown periostracum. Growth stages are clear and there is a structure of fine concentric lines on the outer surface of the valves. The valves have a distinct posterior gape. Inside of the shell can be purple to white and sometimes has an orange to pink hue. Pallial sinus is deep and U-shaped.

Habitat: Sandy to shelly gravel substrate from lower shore to shallow sublittoral (rarely more than 30 m). Has been reported, less often, from depths of up to 200 m.

Distribution: Scattered records from most coasts of Britain and Ireland. Seems to be mostly absent from North Sea coast.

Similar Species: Could be confused with Gari fervensis or Gari tellinella.

Key Identification Features:

• Distinct posterior gape.
• Elongate oval outline.
• Inside of shell white to purple, with pink to orange hue.

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

iNaturalist: Gari depressa at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Gari depressa

WoRMS: Gari depressa at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Gari depressa (Pennant, 1777). AphiaID: 140869.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Mollusca; Bivalvia; Autobranchia; Heteroconchia; Euheterodonta; Imparidentia; Cardiida; Tellinoidea; Psammobiidae; Gari