Key:  Family Tellinidae

Phylum Mollusca
 Class Bivalvia
  Subclass Heterodonta
   Order Veneroida

Taken primarily from  Kozloff, 1987, 1996 p. 279 (Copyright 1987, 1996, University of Washington Press.  Used in this web page by permission of University of Washington Press)
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1a  Hinge plate with lateral teeth (these may be small) in addition to the cardinal teeth 2
1b Hinge plate without lateral teeth 5
2a Shell about twice as long as high; length commonly more than 1 cm 3
2b Shell much less than twice as long as high; length up to 1 cm or slightly more 4
3a Interior of both valves with a ridge just behind the scar of the anterioradductor muscle; length up to about 2 cm Tellina (Angulus) modesta
3b Neither valve with a ridge behind the scar of the anterioradductor muscle; length up to about 5 cm Tellina (Moerella) bodegensis
4a Shell slightly more than 1.5 times as long as high; valves becoming narrowed toward the posteroventral corner; exterior white to pink Tellina (Angulus) carpenteri
4b Shell about 1.3 times as long as high; valves rounded posteriorly; exterior whitish or yellow, but interior often pink Tellina (Cadella) nucleoides
5a Length about twice the height; rare Macoma (Psammacoma) yoldiformis
5b Length much less than twice the height; common intertidal and subtidal species 6
6a Posterior portions of both valves distinctly bent to the right (photo) Macoma (Heteromacoma) nasuta
6b Posterior portions of valves not bent to the right 7
7a Periostracum polished, usually transparent; hinge ligament not more than 1/4 the length of the slope from the umbones to the posterior end; length commonly exceeding 5 cm, and sometimes attaining 10 cm Macoma (Rexithaerus) secta
7b Periostracum not polished or transparent; hinge ligament at least 1/3 the length of the slope from the umbones to the posterior end; length not often exceeding 5 cm 8
8a Outline of valves almost perfectly oval; the posterior end nearly as rounded as the anterior end; valves (especially the interior) often yellow, pink, or bluish; length to about 2 cm. Macoma (Macoma) balthica
8b Outline of valves not almost perfectly oval, the posterior end being narrowed and less rounded than the anterior end; valves whitish, except for the brown periostracum; length up to about 5 cm Macoma (Heteromacoma) inquinata



Taxonomic Levels Represented in This Key:

  Macoma balthica
  Macoma nasuta
  Tellina bodegensis
  Tellina (Angulus) modesta



Page created by Dave Cowles, 2005
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