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Dieren en planten

Molluscs   Mussel   Oysters   Saddle oyster   Marine fauna   Fauna of the sea floor   Communities   Gapers   Scallops   Bivalves   

Smallest saddle oyster

size:

up to 2.5 centimeters

color:

whitish

food:

phytoplankton

enemies:

crabs

reproduction:

sexual

  • Dut: Schilferige dekschelp
  • Lat: Heteranomia squamula (Pododesmus s.; Monia squama.)
  • Eng: Smallest saddle oyster
  • Ger: Schuppige Sattelmuschel
  • Dan: Lille sadelmusling
print print
Saddle oyster, foto fitis, sytske dijksen

Smallest saddle oyster

The smallest saddel oyster has a scaly shell. The shells are round, often slightly translucent and have a small hole on the lower valve. Living animals stick byssus thread out of this hole to attach themselves to the underground. The hole is originally formed by the shell growing around the threads.

  • Distribution and habitat
    , foto fitis, sytske dijksen

    Saddle oysters live attached to stones and shells (oyster banks). They are also found on floating objects, particularly plastic. They are found between Norway and the Mediterranean Sea.