Description: This bivalve is up to 5 cm in length (rarely any larger) and has two solid, equal valves which are broadly oval in shape. Each valve is covered in prominent concentric ridges and ranges in colour from an off-white to light brown, occasionally with pinkish patches on the outer surface. Shell colour could be obscured to varying degrees by a chestnut brown periostracum. The interior of the shell is white. There may occasionally be red-brown rays on the shell.

Habitat: Sand, muddy sand, gravel and shelly gravel in a broad range of depths ( 5 - 200 m). Usually in a shallow burrow.

Distribution: Found on all coasts around Britain and Ireland.

Similar Species: There are other Venus species that could potentially be confused with this one, for example Venus verrucosa.

Key Identification Features:

• Broadly oval shell with two equal valves.
• Outer surface of each valve covered in prominent concentric ridges.
• Off-white to light brown in colour, sometimes with pink patches.

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

iNaturalist: Venus casina at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Venus casina

WoRMS: Venus casina at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Venus casina Linnaeus, 1758. AphiaID: 141934.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Mollusca; Bivalvia; Autobranchia; Heteroconchia; Euheterodonta; Imparidentia; Venerida; Veneroidea; Veneridae; Venerinae; Venus