Common Trawl Fauna in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas
Mollusca
Disclaimer: This is not a complete guide to the trawl fauna of the Pacific Arctic. There are many other species that are not presented in this guide. Most identifications of the depicted organisms have been verified by a variety of taxonomic experts but small taxonomic features may not be clearly visible in the images and could lead to confusion with similar taxa. As such, it is recommended that identification of new collections may be aided by this guide but that final identifications should be confirmed on vouchers by taxonomic experts.
Katrin Iken, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, USA (contact: [email protected]) Bodil Bluhm, UiT The Arctic University of Norway
Version: January 2021 Mollusca: Bivalvia Yoldia hyperborea 1 cm
Megayoldia thraciaeformis
1 cm
Nuculana radiata Nuculana pernula
1 cm 1 cm
Shell relatively Strong shell smooth ribbing Mollusca: Bivalvia Ennucula tenuis 1 cm
Serripes groenlandicus
1 cm Shell as wide as high (arrows) Stronger hinge teeth Color is NOT a good indicator to distinguish from S. laperousii
Serripes laperousii
Shell: Wider than high Weak hinge teeth Mollusca: Bivalvia Cyclocardia ventricosa
1 cm
“Hairs” along shell
Cyclocardia crebricostata
1 cm
Crassicardia crassidens
1 cm
Ciliatocardium ciliatum Keenocardium californiense 1 cm 1 cm Mollusca: Bivalvia Macoma calcarea 1 cm Often with blackened periostracum at lower shell edge
Macoma moesta
1 cm More rounded than M. calcarea
Macoma cf brota 1 cm
Macoma torelli 1 cm Relatively thin shell
Tellina lutea Mollusca: Bivalvia Astarte borealis
2 cm Flat shell, esp. larger individuals Can be large Large individuals dark brown, velvety feel
Astarte crenata
1 cm Typically chipped umbo Thick shell Rounded body (width)
Astarte montagui
1 cm
Characteristic bend next to one side of umbo (arrow) Golden brown color Thyasira flexuosa Clear ribbing
1 cm Roundish, white distinct indentation on one side of the shell Mollusca: Bivalvia Chlamys islandica
Mostly an Atlantic species
Chlamys behringiana
2 cm
Similipecten greenlandicus
1 cm
Extremely brittle, transparent shells Common in the Beaufort Sea, often very common where they occur Mollusca: Bivalvia Mya truncata
Periostracum covers siphon Shell gapes at siphon opening Cuspidaria beringensis
1 cm Radial ribs
Cuspidaria glacialis 1 cm Mollusca: Bivalvia Musculus niger
1 cm
Musculus glacialis Part of shell with distinct radial ribbing 1 cm
Musculus discors
cm
0.5 cm Umbo distinctly elevated above shell edge Mollusca: Bivalvia Hiatella arctica 1 cm Row of spines on older shells (arrow)
Liocyma fluctuosa 1 cm Thick shell Concentric rings distinct Chalk-white to gray
Lyonsia arenosa 2 cm Thick shell Radial striations Pieces of brown periostracum common
Bathyarca glacialis
Pandora glacialis 1 cm One valve side very flat Other valve bulging Portlandia arctica Mollusca: Bivalvia 1 cm
Thracia septentrionalis
1 cm
Neaeromya compressa 1 cm
Pododesmus macroschisma Jingle, hole in bottom valve 3 cm
Periploma aleuticum Distinct shell indentation (arrow) 2 cm Mollusca: Polyplacophora
Amicula vestita
2 cm
Hairy periostracum, light brown color
Stenosemus albus
1 cm Mollusca: Gastropoda Admete viridula No operculum
0.5 cm
Distinct reticulate pattern, upper whirls slightly ridged
Admete solida No operculum
1 cm No strong reticulate pattern Shell more solid (thicker) and larger than in A. viridula Deep umbillical Mollusca: Gastropoda
Anomalisipho martensi (previously: A. conulus)
2 cm
Spiral markings (arrow) Dark brown shell with white shell inside
Anomalisipho verkruezeni (previous name Colus verkruezeni)
2 cm
Siphon a more bent than in A. conulus (arrow) Smaller than A. conulus
Latisipho hypolispus Smooth shell (compare to Anomalisipho)
2 cm Can be light-colored Mollusca: Gastropoda Boreotrophon clathratus
1 cm With a bit of a spine on the ridge, at the height of the shoulder (arrow)
Boreotrophon truncatus
1 cm No spine on ridge, smooth ridge Mollusca: Gastropoda
Boreotrophon cymatus
1 cm
Boreoscala greenlandica
Nodulotrophon coronatus Mollusca: Gastropoda Beringius behringi
2 cm
The canal in Beringius is broader and straight compared to Neptunea Axial sculptures are in the form of broad low folds Mostly a pale pink, striped color
Beringius stimpsoni
1 cm
Tall spiral Mollusca: Gastropoda
Neptunea heros
Prominent blunt “spines” along spiral sculpture Diffuse axial sculptures Can be very large
Neptunea communis
1 cm
Prominent spiral sculptures
No distinct axial sculpture Mollusca: Gastropoda Neptunea spp. (multiple other species)
1 cm
1 cm
1 cm 2 cm
Plicifusus kroeyeri
1 cm Mollusca: Gastropoda Pyrulofusus deformis Spiral curves left – only left spiral gastropod !
Pyrulofusus sp.
1 cm
Volutopsius middendorffi
1 cm Volutopsius fragilis Volutopsius norwegicus 1 cm
1 cm Mollusca: Gastropoda All Buccinum operculum with centroid rings
Buccinum glaciale
1 cm
Cone-shape Thin spiral sculptures on lower whorls
Buccinum angulosum
2 cm Can be confused with B. glaciale
B. angulosum is more angular with more distinct knob- like structures at the change of plane angles.
Shell opening more distinctly angular Mollusca: Gastropoda Buccinum polare
1 cm
Upper whorls have slight axial structure Edge brittle or broken off
Common species, often occurs with multiple size classes in a catch
Buccinum beringense
1 cm
B. beringense resembles B. glaciale, but: Stronger spiral sculpture Wider body Knob-like at juncture with axial folds and spiral rib at shoulder Mollusca: Gastropoda Buccinum scalariforme
1 cm
Narrow axial folds are more straight (compare to B. plectrum) Axial folds extend over the entire whorl Mostly reddish-pink color
Buccinum solenum 1 cm
Buccinum plectrum Tall spire 1 cm Prominent sinuous axial folds Spiral sculpture relatively widely and evenly spaced Mollusca: Gastropoda Buccinum tenellum
1 cm
Buccinum ciliatum
1 cm
Pale to dark brown periostracum with axial lines of fine hairs
Buccinum hydrophanum
2 cm Smooth shell Light brown color Mollusca: Gastropoda Colus sabini
2 cm Large, thin- shelled Colus Widely spaced, fine, thread-like spiral sculptures Especially common in Beaufort Sea Colus pubescens
Large shell with even spiral ribs Distinctive hairy periostracum
Colus aphelus
1 cm
Colus togatus
1 cm Mollusca: Gastropoda Colus jeffreysianus
Smooth, light-brown shell
1 cm
Aulacofusus brevicauda (formerly Colus spitzbergensis and Neptunea brevicauda)
1 cm
Fine, spiral sculptures Often brown color (but can be light)
Clinopegma magnum
1 cm
Velvety periostracum Very large last whorl, rounded shell shape Mollusca: Gastropoda
Neoiphinoe coronata
1 cm
Dense hairy fringe along the shoulder of each whorl
Neoiphinoe kroeyeri
1 cm
Ariadnaria borealis
1 cm
Wide opening
Hairy fringe along whorl shoulder but uneven Some axial structure Very wide shell opening Mollusca: Gastropoda
Trichotropis bicarinata
1 cm
Hair tufts scattered, similar to Ariadnaria borealis No axial structures, rather some spiral ridges Regular-sized shell opening (compared to A. borealis)
Trichotropis cancellata
1 cm Mollusca: Gastropoda Cryptonatica affinis (previously Natica clausa) 1 cm
Calcareous operculum (hard) Mostly brown shell
Euspira pallida (previously Lunatia pallida)
1 cm
Translucent , proteinaceous operculum (flexible) Often lighter-colored shell than C. affinis
Tachyrhynchus erosus
2 cm Shell typically rusty-brown, Can be yellowish Can be eroded and rounded Mollusca: Gastropoda Curtitoma decussata
1 cm
Axial ridges in a wavy fashion across each whorl; small species
Curtitoma novajasemljensis
1 cm
Axial structures straight; small species
Curtitoma violacea
1 cm Axial and spiral structures slightly elevated Gives shell a checkered appearance
Granotoma albrechti 1 cm Mollusca: Gastropoda Obesotoma tenuilirata
1 cm
Upper whorls small Lowest whorl large and elongated Axial structures straight
Obesotoma laevigata
1 cm
Upper whorls small Shell smooth, brown color
Obesotoma sp
1 cm Mollusca: Gastropoda Oenopota elegans
1 cm
Tall, pointy spiral, shell mostly smooth, white color [Another species: Oenopota pyramidales, is also white and tall spiral but also with distinctive spiral sculpture – no picture] Oenopota harpa
Oenopota impressa
0.5 cm 0.5 cm Mollusca: Gastropoda
Oenopota pingelli
1 cm
Astyris rosacea 1 cm
Iphionopsis sp. 1 cm Mollusca: Gastropoda
Propebela arctica
1 cm
Small upper whorls Axial structures, rounded shoulders
Propebela nobilis (sometimes also referred to as Oenopota nobilis)
1 cm
Small upper whorls Strong axial structures, shoulders with distinct edge
Mohnia sp.
1 cm
Top of shell often eroded, blunt tip Mollusca: Gastropoda
Retifusus roseus
Fine spiral structures
1 cm
Epheria crassior
1 cm
Shell very soft (flexible) and thin Mollusca: Gastropoda Solariella obscura 0.5 cm
Faint axial sculptures in addition to prominent spiral Umbilicus open, deep Shell white to pearl color Margarites costalis 1 cm Spiral sculptures only Umbilicus more narrow than in S. obscura Shell white to pearl color Can get quite large
Margarites helicinus (previously M. beringensis)
1 cm Shell smooth No prominent sculpture Shell pink and blueish hues
Margarites groenlandicus
1 cm Can be confused with S. obscura b/c of deep, open umbilicus Lacks axial structures Tan-colored shell Mollusca: Gastropoda Velutina velutina Covered with periostracum 0.5 cm
Periostracum can have distinct hairs in “rows”
Limneria undata Not covered by periostracum, smooth shell 1 cm
Onchidiopsis sp. Yellow-orange-brown, shapeless “blob”, gelatinous but firm
1 cm Mollusca: Gastropoda
Lepeta caeca
Puncturella noachina
Slit-like opening at top of shell Mollusca: Gastropoda Order: Cephalaspidea Cylichna alba Top and bottom end of shell blunt 1 cm Shell opening along entire shell length Brown color
Cylichnoides occultus
1 cm Shell with pointed ends Shell mostly white to tan
Philine sp.
0.5 cm
Internal shell Mollusca: Gastropoda Dendronotus frondosus
1 cm
Dendronotus sp. 1 cm
Tritonia sp.
1 cm
Coryphella sp
1 cm Mollusca: Gastropoda Flabellina sp
1 cm
Calycidoris geuntheri
1 cm
Mostly yellow in color but can also be grey
Adalaria proxima
0.5 cm
White with papillae Mollusca: Scaphopoda
Siphonodentalium lobatum cm
Mollusca: Aplacophora Chaetoderma
1 cm Worm-shaped “Furry” skin Mollusca: Cephalopoda Benthoctopus sibiricus
1 cm
Benthoctopus sibiricus has relatively longer and thicker arms than in Bathypolypus arcticus and the suckers are unequal in size, especially in males, with much larger suckers on the thickest part of the arms than elsewhere.
Bathypolypus arcticus
1 cm
Bathypolypus arcticus suckers are relatively small and do not vary much in size along the arms Mollusca: Cephalopoda Rossia sp
1 cm
Cirroteuthis muelleri
2 cm
Squid
5 cm