We have found this peculiar animal in a benthos sample from the Dutch North Sea (in Dutch Klaverbank; in English Cleaverbank). We first thought it was a Bivalve but due to this a-symmetrical umbo we concluded that it must be a Brachiopod, a phylum not yet known from The Netherlands, As we do not have any key or experience with this group, we do not dare to open it. However, we think that it contains flesh and it appears fresh and alive when sampled. Does anybody can tell us what genus or species we are dealing with? The specimen can be send on request.
date: 1.vii.2015, depth 33m
Thanks
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/resources-rx/files/pdf-guide-to-the-recent-british-brachiopodscompressed-134341.pdf
groet, Menno
Dear Ton
Interesting! Are you sure about the presence a stalk (pedicle) and foramen? If yes, this may be a juvenile of the brachiopod Terebratulina retusa. Identification following 'Brachiopoda of the North Sea'. sea link attached.
According to Hayward & Ryland (1990: 836) ~12 radiating striations in 5 mm width.
http://species-identification.org/species.php?species_group=brachiopoda&menuentry=soorten&id=40&tab=links
It has a distinct aperture in one valve, but I'm not able to open the valves to check anything internal. The valves are very solid and I'm not able to get anything in between. I cannot see any weak part externally.
I also received the same species name via e-mail from Chris Ashelby.
Beste Ton
Je kan misschien contact op nemen met de auteurs van
Macrobenthos of the North Sea / Volume I, Keys to mollusca and brachiopoda.
door Mario De Kluijver; Sarita Ingalsuo; Rykel H De Bruyne; et al
Computerbestand : 5,25 inch disc : CD voor computer
Taal: Engels
Uitgever: Amsterdam : Expert Center for Taxonomic Identification (ETI), cop. 2000.
Database: WorldCat
Rykel H. De Bruyne is coördinator van de Stichting Anemoon
Mario de Kluijver kan worden gecontacteerd via stichting Zeeschelp ( [email protected])
Beste groeten
Thierry
A key may be found in: 'Brunton CHC & Curry GB 1979. British Brachiopods. Syn. Brit. Fauna (N.S) 17'. Unfortunately I don't have a copy of this synopsis. According to H&R (1990) their illustrations are disappointing.
Best wishes,
Marco Faasse
Yes, I agree with the others, probably Terebratulina retusa. We have a very similar form T. septentrionalis here in eastern Canada. Your species is the eastern Atlantic equivalent and occurs wherever there are hard substrates for attachment. It ranges into the Mediterranean where it is not uncommon.
Thanks to you all. In two issues of 'het Zeepaard' (41, 64) a single record has been published of this species being found as empty juvenile valves, washed upon our beach in 1937 (near Domburg). Never a live animal was recorded. Cleaver bank is famous as well as notorious for having lots of hard substrates.
Beste Ton,
Is het misschien mogelijk dat je deze vondst publiceert in Spirula?
Groeten, Tello
@ Francisco: see above: depth 33 m, the North Sea is relatively shallow
we have yet found another one in the same area but in another sample. And as we are still processing samples from Cleaverbank, I expect to find some more. It is definitely worth publishing, but only when finished with this project
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