Martesia fragilis Verrill & Bush, 1898 - A Wood Piddock

A coconut was found washed-up on the beach at Newquay, Cornwall, by Tracey Williams in March 2014.

Here's the important bit and the correct information -

Tracey Williams took the coconut to Dr. Paul Gainey who found it contained boring molluscs and these were thought to be Martesia striata, as only this species had been reported before. On closer examination and using literature produced by Ruth Dixon Turner the species ws identified as Martesia fragilis by David Fenwick, which was later confirmed.

Wood Piddock
Martesia fragilis ?
- 7mm valve dorsal view 1

Wood Piddock
Martesia fragilis ?
- valve end view 1

Wood Piddock
Martesia fragilis ?
- interior of valve 1

Wood Piddock
Martesia fragilis ?
- with 0.05mm division rule 1

Specimen above almost certainly Martesia fragilis, a Wood piddock. A single 7mm long valve was found in a piece of an old American fishing buoy that had washed-up on the shore at Sennen Cove, Cornwall, 15.01.16. The piece of fishing buoy was holed by two 15mm+ diameter holes, one running straight through, and four Isognomon bicolor were found in one of the holes.

Synonomy -
Pholadidea minuscula Dall, 1908
Martesia bahamensis Bartsch & Rehder, 1945
Martesia exquisita Bartsch & Rehder, 1945

APHOTOMARINE

An educational resource dedicated mainly to the photography
and diversity of marine life that can be found in coastal waters
and intertidal areas of Great Britain and Ireland by David Fenwick.

APHOTOMARINE

An educational resource dedicated mainly to the photography and diversity of marine life that can be found in coastal waters and intertidal areas of Great Britain and Ireland by David Fenwick.

An educational resource dedicated mainly to the photography
and diversity of marine life that can be found in coastal waters
and intertidal areas of Great Britain and Ireland by David Fenwick.