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.

A-P-H-O-T-O Wildlife Stock Image Library
Mulinia lateralis (Say, 1822) - Dwarf surf clam - UK HORIZON SPECIES - (Marine bivalve images)
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Dwarf surf clam
Mulinia lateralis
- shell valve exterior 1

Dwarf surf clam
Mulinia lateralis
- shell valve interior 1

Dwarf surf clam
Mulinia lateralis
- collection of shells 1

Dwarf surf clam
Mulinia lateralis
- Mulinia specimens on right, specimens of Spisula on left 1

The specimens above were found at Bollen van de Ooster, Voordelta, Zeeland, Netherlands. The photographs were taken by and are copyright to Henk Dekker and Ton Van Haaren, who I thank for allowing me to feature them.

Mulinia lateralis was found for the first time in Europe in the Netherlands, in the Wadden Sea and in the Westerschelde estuary in 2017 and 2018, in densities numbering nearly 6,000 individuals per square meter. The native range of this species is on the east coast of the US, from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to and including the Gulf of Mexico.

Dwarf surf clam
Mulinia lateralis
- shell valve exterior 1

Dwarf surf clam
Mulinia lateralis
- shell valve exterior 2

Dwarf surf clam
Mulinia lateralis
- shell valve interior 1

Dwarf surf clam
Mulinia lateralis
- shell valve interior 2

Dwarf surf clam
Mulinia lateralis
- shell valves interior 1

Dwarf surf clam
Mulinia lateralis
- hinge 1

Dwarf surf clam
Mulinia lateralis
- hinge 2

Dwarf surf clam
Mulinia lateralis
- hinges 1

Dwarf surf clam
Mulinia lateralis
- periostracum 1

Dwarf surf clam
Mulinia lateralis
- interior and exterior 1

Dwarf surf clam
Mulinia lateralis
- with 0.1mm division rule 1

Specimen above photographed 22.04.20.

Dwarf surf clam
Mulinia lateralis
- shell valve exterior 3

Dwarf surf clam
Mulinia lateralis
- shell valve exterior 4

Dwarf surf clam
Mulinia lateralis
- shell valve interior 3

Specimen above photographed 17.02.16.

The specimen displayed above was collected by Steve Rosenthal, in beachdrift, at Great South Bay, Suffolk Co., New York, USA. May 2002. Photographed in authors collection 17.02.16 and 22.04.20, part of a NW Atlantic reference collection helping to identify non-native species.

This is just one of a number of species from the NW Atlantic that have arrived in Europe, every year the list grows and largely because species are able to cross the Atlantic on fishing gear or plastic refuse or brought here in the ballast water of ships.

The species is between 1/2 and 3/4 inches in length, triangular in shape with beaks nearly central and inclined forward. Areas before, and behind beaks are broad, flattened, roughly heart-shaped, and bordered by slightly elevated ridges. It is described as yellowish white with thin periostracum. In its natural range it is an important food item for many marine fish and seagoing ducks. This species is also called the Coot or Duck clam.

Ref:
J. A. Craeymeersch, M. A. Faasse, H. Gheerardyn, K. Troost, R. Nijland, A. Engelberts, K. J. Perdon, D. van den Ende & J. van Zwol. First records of the dwarf surf clam Mulinia lateralis (Say, 1822) in Europe. (paper).

Tucker Abbott R., Morris P.A., Shells of the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts and the West Indies. (book, ISBN 0-618-16439-1).

Mulinia lateralis Dwarf surf or Coot clam Marine Bivalve Images
The main objective of this website is in furthering environmental awareness and education through the medium of photography. To increase awareness and access to the wildlife of the region and help
people find and identify it. Sometimes the difference between species is obvious but many species can only be determined by observing microscopic characteristics that are specific to any one species.