|
|
MACTRIDAE |
|
|
Click on an image to enlarge
|
Mactrotoma antecedens (Iredale, 1930) Description: Moderately lightweight, gaping at both ends. Shape elongate, length greater than height, umbo in front of midline, characteristic ridge from umbo to postero-ventral margin. Exterior sculptured only with weak irregular commarginal growth lines. Interior white, muscle scars and pallial line well-defined; pallial sinus deep, reaching almost to midline. Hinge as for family. Ligament internal. Shell completely white. Periostracum thin, dark brown. Size: Up to 43 mm in length. Distribution: Endemic to Australia: Central Qld, southwards and around southern Australia, to Shark Bay, WA, including Tas. Habitat: Intertidal sand flats of moderately sheltered shores and down to 30 m. Common as beach washup. Synonymy: Electomactra flindersi Cotton & Godfrey, 1938, from South Australia, is a synonym of this species. In early Australian literature this species was considered to be Mactra ovalina Lamarck, 1818, but that is now regarded as a Southern African species. Fig. 1: Kurnell, Botany Bay, Sydney, NSW (C.084236) |
|
