Tellina spenceri

Taxobox
name = "Tellina spenceri"
status =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Bivalvia
subclassis = Heterodonta
ordo = Veneroida
superfamilia = Tellinoidea
familia = Tellinidae
genus = "Tellina"
species = "T. spenceri"
binomial = "Tellina spenceri"
binomial_authority = Iredale, 1915

"Tellina spenceri", or Spencer's wedge shell, is a rare bivalve mollusc of the family Tellinidae, endemic to New Zealand. It is found below low-water to about 10 m around the North and South islands, but is only reasonably common at Mercury Bay in the Bay of Plenty.

The shell is rather large, elongate-ovate, with a very strong posterior ridge and flexure, its termination roundly rostrate. Sculpture of fine, rather irregular, concentric lirations, about 30 per cm.

Coloration is pure white, with traces of a thin yellowish-olive periostracum, usually worn off.

Height is up to 31 mm, length 56 mm, and thickness 12 mm.

References

* Powell A W B, "New Zealand Mollusca", William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1
* Glen Pownall, "New Zealand Shells and Shellfish", Seven Seas Publishing Pty Ltd, Wellington, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 85467-054-8