Solecurtus strigilatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Mediterranean. Vertically burrowed in sediments (two holes distant from each other of a few cm), in shallow water down to sublittoral. The animal is far larger than its shell.
Original taxon: Solen strigilatus – a strigilis is a curry-comb.
Specimen from Fiumara, Barletta, Puglia, SE. Italy. 76mm.
“Solen rose” in H.-M. de Blainville: Manuel de malacologie et de conchyliologie, vol. II, Paris 1827, via BHL.
On sand banks, Gruissan, Occitania, S. France. 84-85mm.
Solecurtus strigilatus in L. A. Reeve: Conchologia systematica vol. I, London 1841, via BHL.
Solecurtus strigilatus in J. G. Hidalgo: Moluscos marinos de España, Portugal y las Baleares, Madrid 1870, via BHL.
Solecurtus strigilatus in R. Tate: A manual of the Mollusca, 4th. edition, London 1880, via BHL.
 
« The Solecurti bury deeply in sand or mud, usually beyond low water, and are difficult to obtain live. […] By removing three or four inches of sand [their] burrows may be discovered ; they are vertical cylindrical cavities, 1,5 inches in diameter and 12 or more deep ; the animal holds fast by the expanded end of its foot. » op. cit. p. 488.
Veštar Cove, south of Rovinj, western Istria, NW. Croatia. Original picture provided by M. Wagner for iNaturalist.
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