Bivalvia | 
Arcida | 
Arcidae
			
			
			
				Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range				
				
					Ecology				
				
			
			
				Benthic; depth range 0 - 200 m (Ref. 2754).  Subtropical; 46°N -   17°S, 17°W -   36°E			
			
			
				
			
			
			
				Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea.
			
			
			
			
			
				Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
			
			
				Maturity: Lm ?, range 2 - ? cmCommon length : 10.0 cm SHL male/unsexed; (Ref. 437); max. reported age: 16 years (Ref. 7879)			
			
			
						
			
			
			
			
				
					Minimum depth based on ecology. Abundant in coastal waters (Ref. 73156).  Occurs from the low intertidal to a depth of 119 m (Ref. 122977).  Also found in a coastal lagoon (Ref. 122976).  Firmly attached by a strong byssus to rocks, shells and rhizomes of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica (Ref. 122975).  Occurs either as solitary individuals.  Attaches to rocks covered with photophilic  algae and nestles in rock crevices and holes in loose stones; also occurs on various kinds of semi-mobile gravels (Ref. 122977).  Associated with coralligenous assemblages, i.e. temperate reefs of the Mediterranean (Ref. 122117).				
			
			
			
			
			
				Life cycle and mating behavior				
					Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae				
			
			
				
					Life cycle:  Embryos develop into free-swimming trocophore larvae, succeeded by the bivalve veliger, resembling a miniature clam (Ref. 833).				
			
			
			
			
			
				Fischer, W., G. Bianchi and W.B. Scott (eds.) 1981 Bivalves. 6: pag.var. In FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Eastern Central Atlantic (fishing areas 34, 47; in part). Canada Funds-in-Trust. Ottawa, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, by arrangement with the Food and AgriculturesOrganization of the United Nations, 1-7: pag.var. (Ref. 437)
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
					
						IUCN Red List Status    
						 (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)
					
					
					
				
			
			
			
			
				CITES status   (Ref. 108899)
			
			
				
					Not Evaluated				
			
			
			
			
			
			
				
					Not Evaluated				
			
			
			
			
			
				Threat to humans  
			
			
				
									
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
				Human uses  
			
			
				Fisheries: commercial			
			
			
				 | FishSource | 			
			
			
			
			
			
Tools
			
			
			
			
				
					More information				
				
					 Trophic EcologyFood items (preys)
Diet composition
Food consumption
Predators
  PhysiologyOxygen consumption
  Human RelatedStamps, coins, misc.
  
			 
			
			
			
				Internet sources
			
			
			
			
			
				Estimates based on models
			
			
			
									
						Preferred temperature  					
				 (Ref. 
115969): 11.9 - 17.5, mean 15 (based on 28 cells).			
 
			
			
			
							
					Resilience  				
				
				
					Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.15-0.34; tmax=16).