Phylum: Mollusca

Class: Bivalvia

Order: Myoida

Family: Myidae

Scientific name: Mya truncata

 

Norwegian: butt sandskjell

(Storsteinan - The Trondheim Fjord / 32 meters / 3.06.2004)

Distribution: As the sand gaper, the blunt gaper is common along the entire Norwegian coast. It is usually found on depths between 0 and 40 meters, buried in soft, sandy substrate. Only the siphons are visible to divers.

Characteristics: The posterior end of the shell is, in contrast to the sand gaper, abruptly truncated. The shell may reach a length of 7 cm. The shell has a pale brown color while the siphon is colored olive or brown.

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