English Common Name

Rostrate Tellin

Scientific name

Pharaonella rostrata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Taxonomy

Order: Cardiida, Family: Tellinidae

Size

About 5 cm (length of its shell)

Species Distribution

Amamioshima Island, Okinawa Islands, Sakishima Islands, coastal areas of Southern China, Australia, Indo-Pacific

Okinawa Red List of Threatened Species: Near Threatened

Japan Red List of Threatened Species: Vulnerable

It burrows into fine sandy areas and stays with keeping mantle horizontal position. Since this species prefers sandy areas, its living environment is very limited. The species has an important role as a primary consumer in the marine ecosystem since it feeds on excretions and dead microorganisms. Runoff from the terrestrial areas brings mud to its habitats. Concerns are growing today over its population decline due to loss of habitat.

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Updated December 2018

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