Bivalvia |
Mytilida |
Mytilidae
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Benthic; depth range 0 - 15 m (Ref. 348). Tropical
Indo-Pacific: from East and South Africa, to Japan, Australia, New Caledonia and eastern Polynesia.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm Max length : 5.0 cm SHL male/unsexed; (Ref. 348); common length : 4.0 cm SHL male/unsexed; (Ref. 348)
Shell thick, elongate, variable in shape, roughly trigonal-ovate or trapezoidal in outline, markedly swollen and pointed anteriorly, rounded and somewhat compressed posteriorly. Umbones terminal, prominent, sharply tapering and ventrally recurved. Anterior margin reduced. Ventral margin long and usually broadly concave. Posterodorsal area somewhat expanded and laterally compressed. Outer surface of valves covered with numerous, densely set radial riblets slightly diverging on posterodorsal and posteroventral areas. Periostracum strong, tightly applied to shell. Hinge with a few small denticles under the umbo of each valve. A strong shelly ledge above the umbonal cavity, supporting the anterior adductor scar and expanded dorsally as a low ridge along the ligament. Internal margins finely crenulated throughout. Colour: exterior of shell deep green, becoming brownish and paler towards the umbones. Interior bluish grey to purplish brown, white on the umbonal area.
Frequently found in areas exposed to washing of surf with strong water current (Ref. 80041). Attached to rocks, dead corals or the underside of stones, sometimes occurring in dense colonies. Littoral and sublittoral to a depth of about 15 m (Ref. 348). Living among the alga Corallina officinalis in rock-pools between tide-marks (Ref. 88739). Reported from Hong Kong to be found on the ceilings and walls of submarine caves (Ref. 126058).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Members of the class Bivalvia are mostly gonochoric, some are protandric hermaphrodites. Life cycle: Embryos develop into free-swimming trocophore larvae, succeeded by the bivalve veliger, resembling a miniature clam.
Poutiers, J.M. 1998 Bivalves. Acephala, Lamellibranchia, Pelecypoda. p. 123-362. In Carpenter, K. E. and V. H. Niem. 1998. FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 1. Seaweeds, corals, bivalves, and gastropods. Rome, FAO. (Ref. 348)
IUCN Red List Status
(Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)
CITES status (Ref. 108899)
Not Evaluated
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Human uses
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Tools
More information
Trophic EcologyFood items (preys)
Diet composition
Food consumption
Predators
Life cycleReproductionMaturityFecunditySpawningEggsEgg developmentLarvae PhysiologyOxygen consumption
Human RelatedStamps, coins, misc.
Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature
(Ref.
115969): 23.1 - 29.3, mean 28.3 (based on 3576 cells).
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.23-0.34).
Fishing Vulnerability
Low to moderate vulnerability (32 of 100).
