Description: A solid bivalve with a broadly oval outline that reaches up to 4.5 cm in size. Colour is a dirty white or pale yellow to brown, with varying red-brown patterns including zigzags, streaks and blotches. The periostracum is thin and glossy. On the exterior of the shell there is a sculpture of fine concentric ridges and radiating lines is visible, but the surface of the shell remains smooth. There are 3 cardinal teeth and no lateral teeth in each valve. In the right valve the the posterior cardinal tooth is bifid, in the left the central one is bifid. Interior of the shell is a glossy white, sometimes with purple or orange staining. Pallial sinus doesn't reach the midline of the shell.

Habitat: Gravel, muddy gravel or sometimes soft black mud, from low water mark to around 40 m depth.

Distribution: Recorded from most coats of Britain and Ireland. Mostly absent from east and NE coast of Britain.

Similar Species: Could be confused with Politapes rhomboides, or possibly Ruditapes decussatus and Ruditapes philippinarum.

Key Identification Features:

• Solid with broadly oval outline.
• Dirty white to pale brown with varying red-brown patterning.
• 3 cardinal teeth and no lateral teeth in each valve.
• Left valve has central bifid cardinal tooth.
• Right valve has posterior bifid cardinal tooth.

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

iNaturalist: Polititapes aureus at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Polititapes aureus

WoRMS: Polititapes aureus at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Polititapes aureus (Gmelin, 1791). AphiaID: 246150.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Mollusca; Bivalvia; Autobranchia; Heteroconchia; Euheterodonta; Imparidentia; Venerida; Veneroidea; Veneridae; Tapetinae; Polititapes