Relevant Synonyms Angulus valtonis (Hanley, 1844) Tellina Waltoni Hanley (misspelling) [Tillier and Bavay, 1905] Misidentification -  drawing: Tuvia Kurz

SHORT DESCRIPTION Shell thin, compressed, equivalve, inequilateral, umbones noticeably towards the posterior third. Outline subovate longer than high; anterior margin rounded; posterior margin narrowed, oblique, appearing somehow rostrate but slightly truncated. Sculpture of concentric lines giving a smooth and shining appearence. Ligament external. Hinge with rv anterior lateral almost fused to anterior cardinal. color : externally pink to rose red; may have pale rose red radial rays. common size : shell to 18 mm. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS Similar to T. donacina Linnaeus, 1758 and T. compressa Brocchi, 1814. The posterior margin which is expanded obliquely and subtruncate and the well formed anterior lateral in rv are diagnostic features. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Tellinidae are known to be susceptible to low winter temperatures. habitat : in muddy sand, intertidal and offshore; in sheltered lagoonal conditions in the Red Sea (Oliver, 1992). In Bardawil lagoon at 0.5-1 m depth.

1st Mediterranean record Egypt, 1977 [1970]. DISTRIBUTION Worldwide: Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Persian Gulf; Suez Canal (Tillier and Bavay, 1905). Mediterranean: recorded first in 1970 from Bardawil lagoon, Egypt (Barash and Danin, 1977a); recently from southeastern Turkey near Yumurtalik (Giunchi et al., 2001). ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Rare: six valves from Bardawil lagoon and a few valves from southeastern Turkey. speculated reasons for success : - MODE OF INTRODUCTION Via the Suez Canal. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS None.

KEY REFERENCES Barash A. and Danin Z., 1977a. Additions to the knowledge of Indo-Pacific Mollusca in the Mediterranean. Conchiglie, 13(5-6): 85-116. Giunchi L., Micali P. and Tisseli M., 2001. Report of two new Lessepsian immigrants from Turkey. La Conchiglia, 298: 47-48. Moazzo P.G., 1939. Mollusques testacés marins du Canal de Suez. Mémoires de l'Institut d'Egypte, 38: 1-283, Cairo [Tellina valtonis pp. 120-121].   Tillier L. and Bavay A., 1905. Les mollusques testacés du Canal de Suez. Bulletin de la Société Zoologique de France, 30: 170-181. FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

Last update : December 2003 ©ciesm 2002