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Lutraria lutraria (Linnaeus, 1758)
Lutraria lutraria is commonly known as the otter mussel. It is a mussel from the trough mussel family Mactridae. It lives buried in sandy, muddy and gravelly soils from the tidal area to a depth of around 100 meters. The mussel is said to burrow itself up to 35 cm deep into the ground.
The otter mussel is the type species for describing its genus. The shells are thick, firm and elongated. Its average size is 90 to 115 mm, although 150 mm large shells have also been found. The two halves of the shell are the same size. Foot and siphons are often stuck out. The periostracum is scaly and olive-brown. This layer wears away over time and is often completely missing from shells found on the beach.
The massive siphons can be extended to two to three times the bowl length. They are interconnected along their entire length, striped brown and purple, and are contained in a transparent, gelatinous shell made of protein and chitin. The siphons are outgrowths of the mantle, while the sheath is a continuation of the periostracum.
The mussel is a filter feeder. It sucks in water through one siphon and expels it through the other. Respiration occurs when water flows over the gills. During trawling, the tips of the siphons can be damaged or removed, and bottom-feeding fish can suffocate them, but the animal can regenerate the inner layers over the course of a few days.
Unlike razor clams, otter clams typically spend their lives in one place. The base is relatively small and is primarily used for fastening rather than digging. Any animal unable to quickly burrow back in will likely fall prey to the scavengers who will be on the scene as soon as a dragnet passes.
Host/prey of Herrmannella rostrata Canu, 1891 Feedingtype: ectoparasitic, Life stage: adult
Synonymised names
Chama magna da Costa, 1778 · unaccepted
Lutraria elliptica Lamarck, 1801 · unaccepted (synonym)
Lutraria elliptica var. latior R. A. Philippi, 1844 · unaccepted
Lutraria lutraria var. panormensis De Gregorio, 1885 · unaccepted
Lutraria solida R. A. Philippi, 1851 · unaccepted
Lutraria vulgaris J. Fleming, 1828 · unaccepted
Mya lutraria Linnaeus, 1758 · unaccepted (original combination)
Direct children (3)
Forma Lutraria lutraria f. capensis Reeve, 1854 accepted as Lutraria capensis Reeve, 1854
Variety Lutraria lutraria var. jeffreysi De Gregorio, 1885 accepted as Lutraria oblonga (Gmelin, 1791) (synonym)
Variety Lutraria lutraria var. panormensis De Gregorio, 1885 accepted as Lutraria lutraria (Linnaeus, 1758)
Lutraria lutraria is commonly known as the otter mussel. It is a mussel from the trough mussel family Mactridae. It lives buried in sandy, muddy and gravelly soils from the tidal area to a depth of around 100 meters. The mussel is said to burrow itself up to 35 cm deep into the ground.
The otter mussel is the type species for describing its genus. The shells are thick, firm and elongated. Its average size is 90 to 115 mm, although 150 mm large shells have also been found. The two halves of the shell are the same size. Foot and siphons are often stuck out. The periostracum is scaly and olive-brown. This layer wears away over time and is often completely missing from shells found on the beach.
The massive siphons can be extended to two to three times the bowl length. They are interconnected along their entire length, striped brown and purple, and are contained in a transparent, gelatinous shell made of protein and chitin. The siphons are outgrowths of the mantle, while the sheath is a continuation of the periostracum.
The mussel is a filter feeder. It sucks in water through one siphon and expels it through the other. Respiration occurs when water flows over the gills. During trawling, the tips of the siphons can be damaged or removed, and bottom-feeding fish can suffocate them, but the animal can regenerate the inner layers over the course of a few days.
Unlike razor clams, otter clams typically spend their lives in one place. The base is relatively small and is primarily used for fastening rather than digging. Any animal unable to quickly burrow back in will likely fall prey to the scavengers who will be on the scene as soon as a dragnet passes.
Host/prey of Herrmannella rostrata Canu, 1891 Feedingtype: ectoparasitic, Life stage: adult
Synonymised names
Chama magna da Costa, 1778 · unaccepted
Lutraria elliptica Lamarck, 1801 · unaccepted (synonym)
Lutraria elliptica var. latior R. A. Philippi, 1844 · unaccepted
Lutraria lutraria var. panormensis De Gregorio, 1885 · unaccepted
Lutraria solida R. A. Philippi, 1851 · unaccepted
Lutraria vulgaris J. Fleming, 1828 · unaccepted
Mya lutraria Linnaeus, 1758 · unaccepted (original combination)
Direct children (3)
Forma Lutraria lutraria f. capensis Reeve, 1854 accepted as Lutraria capensis Reeve, 1854
Variety Lutraria lutraria var. jeffreysi De Gregorio, 1885 accepted as Lutraria oblonga (Gmelin, 1791) (synonym)
Variety Lutraria lutraria var. panormensis De Gregorio, 1885 accepted as Lutraria lutraria (Linnaeus, 1758)
