Mya truncata

Mya truncata, also known as the blunt gaper or truncated softshell, is a species of bivalve belonging to the family Myidae. This species is found in the North Atlantic Ocean, extending from the White Sea to the coast of France, and including the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.

Description

Mya truncata is a large bivalve, with a shell that can reach up to 7.5 cm in length. The shell is elongated, oval in shape, and truncated at the posterior end, hence the name "truncated softshell". The exterior of the shell is white to grey in color, while the interior is typically white.

Habitat and Distribution

Mya truncata is a marine species that inhabits soft substrates, such as mud or sandy mud. It is found at depths ranging from the intertidal zone to 70 meters. The species is distributed widely in the North Atlantic Ocean, from the White Sea in the north to the coast of France in the south. It is also found in the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.

Ecology

Mya truncata is a filter feeder, extracting plankton and other small organisms from the water column. It is also known to be a deposit feeder, ingesting sediment and extracting organic matter. The species plays a significant role in the ecosystem by bioturbating the sediment, which helps to oxygenate the substrate and promote nutrient cycling.

Conservation Status

The conservation status of Mya truncata is not currently evaluated by the IUCN. However, like many marine bivalves, it may be threatened by habitat loss, pollution, and climate change.

See Also

• List of bivalves of the United Kingdom
• Marine life of the North Sea