| Laevicardium crassum Temporal range: Quaternary – Present [1] | |
|---|---|
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| Valves of Laevicardium crassum | |
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| Fossils of L. crassum from Pliocene of Italy | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Bivalvia |
| Order: | Cardiida |
| Family: | Cardiidae |
| Genus: | Laevicardium |
| Species: | L. crassum |
| Binomial name | |
| Laevicardium crassum Gmelin, 1791 | |
Laevicardium crassum, the Norwegian egg cockle, is a species of saltwater clam, a cockle, a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Cardiidae, the cockles.[2]
Fossil record
Fossils of Laevicardium crassum are found in marine strata of the Quaternary (age range: from 0.126 to 0.012 million years ago.). Fossils are known from various localities in Ireland, Italy, Netherlands and Portugal.[1]
Description
Shell of Laevicardium crassum can reach a length of about 7.5 centimetres (3.0 in). The shell exterior is white or light yellow with occasional dark markings. The shell surface is smooth and shows 40-50 ribs with a crenulated margin.[3]
Right and left valve of the same specimen:
Right valve
Left valve
Distribution
This species is present in Northeast Atlantic and the Mediterranean, at depths of 9 to 200 m.[2][3]
Bibliography
- Gmelin, J.F., 1788-1793. In: Linné, C., Systema naturae, Edit. 13 aucta et reformata cura J.F. Gmelin. 10 vols, Lipsiae. 1788-1793 et Lugduni, 1789-1796. -1,6,