Tivela mactroides (Born, 1778)
Trigonal tivela
photo by FAO

Family:  Veneridae (venus clams)
Max. size:  3.4 cm DL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthic; marine; depth range 0 - 2 m
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: from Guatemala to Cuba in the Caribbean, east to Ascension Island and south to Santa Catarina Brazil.
Diagnosis:  Shell heavy, thick, inflated, triangular. Shell surface umbones central and prominent. Hinge with 3 cardinal teeth, with smaller secondary teeth present. Lateral tooth in left valve large. Lunula large, escutcheon absent. Periostracum like varnish. Colour: whitish with brown tinges and rays.
Biology:  Minimum depth from Ref. 104365. Lives in sand, from the intertidal to very shallow subtidal (Refs. 344, 114796). Shallowly buried in sandy bottoms (Ref. 114795). Abundant near river mouths where organic matter and terrigenous particulates accumulate (Ref. 114796). Suspension feeder (Ref. 78149).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. 123251)
Threat to humans: 
Country info:   
 

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