BIOTIC Species Information for Venerupis senegalensis
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| Researched by | Will Rayment | Data supplied by | MarLIN | ||||||||||||
| Refereed by | This information is not refereed. | ||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy | |||||||||||||||
| Scientific name | Venerupis senegalensis | Common name | Pullet carpet shell | ||||||||||||
| MCS Code | W2124 | Recent Synonyms | Venerupis pullastra, Venerupis corrugata, Venerupis saxatilis | ||||||||||||
| Phylum | Mollusca | Subphylum | |||||||||||||
| Superclass | Class | Pelecypoda | |||||||||||||
| Subclass | Order | Veneroida | |||||||||||||
| Suborder | Family | Veneridae | |||||||||||||
| Genus | Venerupis | Species | senegalensis | ||||||||||||
| Subspecies | |||||||||||||||
| Additional Information | Venerupis saxatilis has a more sculptured shell than Venerupis senegalensis and is typically found attached to firm substrata in rocky crevices. It is unclear whether Venerupis saxatilis is a separate species or an ecophenotype of Venerupis senegalensis (Hayward et al., 1996). | ||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy References | Fish & Fish, 1996, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hayward et al., 1996, Howson & Picton, 1997, Smith & Heppell, 1991, | ||||||||||||||
| General Biology | |||||||||||||||
| Growth form | Bivalved |
Feeding method | Active suspension feeder |
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| Mobility/Movement | Burrower |
Environmental position | Infaunal |
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| Typical food types | Suspended organic matter, particularly unicellular algae | Habit | Burrow dwelling | ||||||||||||
| Bioturbator | Flexibility | None (< 10 degrees) | |||||||||||||
| Fragility | Intermediate | Size | Small-medium(3-10cm) | ||||||||||||
| Height | Insufficient information | Growth Rate | 1.3 mm/month | ||||||||||||
| Adult dispersal potential | 100-1000m | Dependency | Independent | ||||||||||||
| Sociability | Solitary | ||||||||||||||
| Toxic/Poisonous? | No | ||||||||||||||
| General Biology Additional Information | Abundance Johanessen (1973a) recorded Venerupis senegalensis (studied as Venerupis pullastra) from a sheltered beach in Norway at a mean density of 31 individuals per 0.25 m². Potential production was calculated to be 20 g ash free dry weight per m²/year, including a loss of 9 g due to mortality. Growth rate Growth rate of Venerupis senegalensis varies according to environmental conditions. Quayle (1952) investigated growth rates of Venerupis senegalensis (studied as Venerupis pullastra) from Millport, Scotland. In the first year following settlement, mean monthly growth rate was 1.3 mm per month over the growing period of 6 months. Growth rate was found to increase for the first 4 years of life (maximum growth rate was ca 9 mm per season) after which it began to decrease. Within each growing season, growth rate was found to increase up to the point of spawning, after which it levelled off and then decreased. Johannessen (1973b) investigated growth of Venerupis senegalensis (studied as Venerupis pullastra) from a sheltered beach in western Norway. The spherical shell of the free swimming larvae developed into an oblong shape after settlement, presumably to aid burrowing. At a shell length greater than 40 mm, the shell shape tended towards a flattened circular form, the biological significance of which is unclear. The shell growth rate was found to be approximately constant (ca 15 mm per season) up to a shell length of 40 mm, after which it decreased. Short and/or young individuals were found to grow faster than long and/or old ones. Diet Beiras et al. (1993) investigated the effect of increasing food rations on Venerupis senegalensis (studied as Venerupis pullastra). Increased rations of algal food were found to increase ingestion rate and growth. This relationship was found to hold true up to the maximum ration of 300 algal cells/µl. However, at high food concentrations the returns diminished due to decreased absorption efficiency. The optimum food concentration for growth (i.e. maximum increase in biomass per unit weight of food) was 100 cells/µl. |
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| Biology References | Fish & Fish, 1996, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hayward et al., 1996, Johannessen, 1973a, Johannessen, 1973b, Quayle, 1952, Beiras et al., 1993, | ||||||||||||||
| Distribution and Habitat | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution in Britain & Ireland | Recorded from all around the coast of Britain and Ireland where suitable habitat occurs | ||||||||||||||
| Global distribution | Recorded in Europe from northern Norway to the Mediterranean and in north west Africa | ||||||||||||||
| Biogeographic range | Not researched | Depth range | lower shore to 35 m | ||||||||||||
| Migratory | Non-migratory / Resident | ||||||||||||||
| Distribution Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Substratum preferences | Gravel / shingle Mixed Muddy gravel Muddy sand Fine clean sand Coarse clean sand |
Physiographic preferences | Strait / sound Enclosed coast / Embayment Estuary Sealoch |
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| Biological zone | Lower Eulittoral Sublittoral Fringe Upper Infralittoral Lower Infralittoral Upper Circalittoral Lower Circalittoral |
Wave exposure | Sheltered Very Sheltered Extremely Sheltered |
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| Tidal stream strength/Water flow | Moderately Strong (1-3 kn) Weak (<1 kn) |
Salinity | Full (30-40 psu) Variable (18-40 psu) |
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| Habitat Preferences Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution References | Fish & Fish, 1996, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hayward et al., 1996, Johannessen, 1973b, JNCC, 1999, Picton & Costello, 1998, Bruce et al., 1963, Connor et al., 1997(a), | ||||||||||||||
| Reproduction/Life History | |||||||||||||||
| Reproductive type | Gonochoristic |
Developmental mechanism | Planktotrophic |
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| Reproductive Season | See additional information | Reproductive Location | Insufficient information | ||||||||||||
| Reproductive frequency | Annual episodic | Regeneration potential | No | ||||||||||||
| Life span | 6-10 years | Age at reproductive maturity | 1 year | ||||||||||||
| Generation time | 1 year | Fecundity | Insufficient information | ||||||||||||
| Egg/propagule size | Insufficient information | Fertilization type | Insufficient information | ||||||||||||
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| Reproduction Preferences Additional Information | The reproductive characteristics of Venerupis senegalensis vary according to the environment. In Scotland, Quayle (1952) recorded breeding between May and September. However, in northern Spain, spawning occurred in March, April and May (Perez Camacho, 1980). Spawning occurred 2 or more times in a season in a population in western Norway (Johannessen, 1973b) and it has been recorded that spawning can occur up to 4 times per season in Venerupis senegalensis (studied as Venerupis pullastra) raised in a microsystem (Jara-Jara et al., 2000). The Spanish population of Venerupis senegalensis (studied as Venerupis pullastra) experienced constant mortality of 17.7% per annum between shell lengths of 11 and 50 mm (Perez Camacho, 1980) whereas the Norwegian population exhibited low mortality up to year 8 followed by mass mortality attributed to senility (Johannessen, 1973b). | ||||||||||||||
| Reproduction References | Fish & Fish, 1996, Johannessen, 1973b, Quayle, 1952, Perez Camacho, 1980, Jara-Jara et al., 2000, | ||||||||||||||
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