Macoma balthica

The Platt Baltic clam ( Macoma baltica )

The Baltic platform shell, or Nordic tellin ( Macoma baltica ) is a species of bivalve mollusc that is found in North and Baltic Sea.

Features

The case of the Baltic platform shell is triangular and red, yellow, green or striped brown and white. The tray inside is mostly red, so it is also called " Red bean". It is up to 3 cm in size. Your siphons are not fused together and very stretchable. Due to its large and mobile Grabfuß they can dig quickly when it is exposed by currents.

Lifestyle and deposits

The Baltic Platt mussel lives deep about 4 to 10 cm in the mud and mixing watts, but is also found in the deeper North Sea. The platform shell can also feed on their longer Einströmsipho with which they can search the mud flats for food ( diatoms and bacteria). Since they are not particularly deep lives in the soil and also can survive in freezing, it does, just like the cockle, an important prey for waders dar.

Dissemination

The Baltic Platt mussel is found in the Atlantic and in the North and Baltic Seas. It also occurs on the coasts of the Arctic Ocean.