Hiatella arctica (Linnaeus, 1767)
A very common benthic bivalve mollusk of arctic seas.
Size
-
Length to 50 mm. Adults usually 25-35 mm.
Color
- Outside – calcareous white. Inside – white.
- Periostracum (gray, light brown to dark brown), as a rule, absent except regions close to siphons and shell edge.
Habitat & Distribution
- Epibenthic mainly. Use byssal threads for attachment to the substratum.
- Very eurybiotic. Litoral-sublitoral mainly.
- On rock, stones and gravel substrates. Sometimes on silty or sandy substrates. Juveniles could be abundant on algae.
- Widespread subtropic (tropic?) – arctic species. May be bipolar.
Feeding
- Filter feeders.
Life cycle
- Development with long stage of pelagic larvae.
Page Author: Andrey Voronkov
Created: July 27, 2010