Montacuta substriata
Montacuta substriata | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Bivalvia |
Order: | Galeommatida |
Superfamily: | Galeommatoidea |
Family: | Lasaeidae |
Genus: | Montacuta |
Species: | M. substriata
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Binomial name | |
Montacuta substriata | |
Synonyms[1] | |
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Montacuta substriata is a species of small marine bivalve mollusc in the family Lasaeidae. It is found on the eastern side of the Atlantic Ocean where it is often associated with a sea urchin, such as Spatangus purpureus. This species was first described in 1808 by the English naturalist George Montagu who gave it the name Ligula substriata. It was later transferred to the genus Montacuta, making it Montacuta substriata.[1]
Description
Montacuta substriata is a very small oval bivalve, commonly about 3 mm (0.12 in) long, but sometimes up to twice that length. It has a smooth, pale yellow shell and attaches itself to one of the smaller spines on the oral surface (underside) of a sediment-dwelling sea urchin, such as Spatangus purpureus or an Echinocardium species. It usually attaches near the anus, where it is difficult to distinguish from a coarse grain of sand.[2]
Distribution and habitat
Montacuta substriata is native to the coasts of Western Europe, its range extending from Norway to the Mediterranean Sea. It occurs on the sandy and gravelly seabed in areas where the burrowing urchins live.[2]
Ecology
Montacuta substriata has a
References
- ^ a b c Gofas, Serge (2021). "Montacuta substriata (Montagu, 1808)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
- ^ a b c André, Frédéric; Perrier, Philippe; Müller, Yves & Pean, Michel (7 November 2020). "Montacuta substriata (Montagu, 1808)" (in French). DORIS. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
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