Lithophaga truncata

Taxobox
name = "Lithophaga truncata"


regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Bivalvia
subclassis = Pteriomorphia
ordo = Mytiloida
familia = Mytilidae
genus = "Lithophaga"
species = "L. truncata"
binomial = "Lithophaga truncata"
binomial_authority = (Gray, 1843)

"Lithophaga truncata" is a date mussel, a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Mytilidae.

Distribution

This date mussel is endemic to New Zealand.

Habitat

This species is common intertidally and below, boring vertically into soft rock on tidal platforms.

Description

The shell is elongate-subcylindrical, tapered from a narrow rounded, greatly produced, posterior end, to the bluntly truncated anterior end. The periostracum is very thick and uniformly dark brown. The interior is bluish-white to purplish, slightly iridescent.

The opening to the animal's burrow is very narrow, much smaller than the animal itself. Whilst boring the hole the spoil is used to narrow the entrance by use of a secretion. The shell is anchored to the substrate with a group of byssus threads.

Maximum length is 49 mm, and height 16 mm.

References

* Miller M & Batt G, "Reef and Beach Life of New Zealand", William Collins (New Zealand) Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1973
* Powell A. W. B., "New Zealand Mollusca", William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1