Fragile File Clam (species: Limaria fragilis) in Lizard Island Field Guide (Lizard Island Field Guide)
Lizard Island Field Guide > Marine Life > Invertebrates > Bivalvia > Limidae > Limaria fragilis (gallery)
Limaria fragilis
Fragile File Clam


©Anne Hoggett: Limaria fragilis from under rubble on sand at North Direction Island. The thin, translucent white, elongate shell is not visible in the photo.

©Anne Hoggett: Limaria fragilis from under rubble on sand at North Direction Island.

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Mollusca
Class Bivalvia
Order Limida
Family Limidae
Genus Limaria
Species Limaria fragilis

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Lizard Island area: all known taxa
Lizard Island Field Guide

Colours

                   

Distinguishing features

Small clams with a bright red body and orange/pale banded tentacles. Shell is elongate oval shaped, translucent white and delicate. Found on sand under slabs of rubble, often in association with Macrophiothrix brittlestars. They are extremely active when disturbed.

Size

  • Up to 3.5 cm (shell length according to Edgar, 2019)

Synonyms

Distribution

Web resources

References

References that assist with identification

  • Edgar, G. (2019). Tropical Marine Life of Australia New Holland Publishers, London.

Other references

  • Robertson, R. (1981). List of shell-bearing mollusks observed and collected at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia, Tryonia, 4: 1-32. LIRS catalog number 403.