Phylum: Mollusca

Class: Bivalvia

Order: Veneroida

Family: Pharidae

Scientific name: Ensis arcuatus

 

Norwegian: knivskjell

(Hindrem - The Trondheim fjord / 11 meters / 3.21.2004)

Distribution: Registered along the west coast of Norway, as far north as Troms. It lives buried in the sand, just below the subtidal zone. Registrations have been made as deep as 100 meters.

Characteristics: E. arcuatus is the largest and most common razor shell along the Norwegian coast. It can reach a length of 20 cm. The dorsal margin (the back) is straight while the ventral (front) margin is curved. It can easily be confused with the slightly shorter (15 cm) and more banana shaped (both margins are curved) E. ensis.

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