(Adams & Reeve, 1850)

Description:
The shell is similar to Tapes decussata , but has much more pronounced decussate sculpture and colour; outline more circular.

Size:
Up to 57 mm long.

Colour:
The shell is very variable in colour and pattern.

Habitat:
The same habitat as Tapes decussata : in sand or muddy-gravel bottoms below the mid-tide level to a few metres deep, usually in quiet waters.

Distribution:
Originally from south-eastern Asia. Introduced in the Mediterranean and the British Isles and France (Distr. T. philippinarum).

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Mollusca
Class Bivalvia
Subclass Heterodonta
Order Veneroida
Family Veneridae
Genus Tapes
Species Tapes philippinarum

Status in World Register of Marine Species

Synonym of Ruditapes philippinarum (Adams and Reeve, 1850)

Scientific synonyms and common names

Venus philippinarum Adams & Reeve, 1850
Tapes denticulata Sowerby G.B. II, 1852
Tapes indica Sowerby G.B. II, 1852
Tapes grata Deshayes, 1853
Tapes quadriradiata Deshayes, 1853
Tapes violascens Deshayes, 1853
Tapes japonica Deshayes, 1853 non Venus japonica Gmelin, 1791
Tapes semidecussata Reeve, 1864
Paphia bifurcata Quayle, 1938
Venerupsis semidecussata

Poppe, G.T. & Y. Goto, 1993. European Seashells. Vol. II. 221 pp. Wiesbaden/Verlag Christa Hemmen.

Seaward, D.R., 1990. Distribution of the marine molluscs of north west Europe. Nature Conservancy Council.

Tebble, N., 1966. British Bivalve Seashells. 212 pp. Trustees of The British Museum (Natural history). London.

You can continue searching for Tapes philippinarum on one of these Web sites:

Fauna Europaea (animals) | IOPI (plants) | NCBI (genetic)

Google | Yahoo | MSN | Wikipedia