Laevicardium crassum

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Laevicardium crassum
Temporal range: Quaternary – Present [1]
Valves of Laevicardium crassum
Fossils of L. crassum from Pliocene of Italy
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Cardiida
Family: Cardiidae
Genus: Laevicardium
Species:
L. crassum
Binomial name
Laevicardium crassum
Gmelin, 1791

Laevicardium crassum, the Norwegian egg cockle, is a species of saltwater clam, a cockle, a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Cardiidae, the cockles.[2]

Fossil record[edit]

Fossils of Laevicardium crassum are found in marine strata of the Quaternary (age range: from 0.126 to 0.012 million years ago.). Fossils are known from various localities in Ireland, Italy, Netherlands and Portugal.[1]

Description[edit]

Shell of Laevicardium crassum can reach a length of about 7.5 centimetres (3.0 in). The shell exterior is white or light yellow with occasional dark markings. The shell surface is smooth and shows 40-50 ribs with a crenulated margin.[3]

Right and left valve of the same specimen:

Distribution[edit]

This species is present in Northeast Atlantic and the Mediterranean, at depths of 9 to 200 m.[2][3]

Bibliography[edit]

  • Gmelin, J.F., 1788-1793. In: Linné, C., Systema naturae, Edit. 13 aucta et reformata cura J.F. Gmelin. 10 vols, Lipsiae. 1788-1793 et Lugduni, 1789-1796. -1,6,

References[edit]