APHOTOMARINE

An educational resource dedicated mainly to the photography
and diversity of marine life that can be found in coastal waters
and intertidal areas of Great Britain and Ireland by David Fenwick.

A-P-H-O-T-O Wildlife Stock Image Library
Monia squama (Gmelin, 1791) - A Saddle oyster (Marine bivalve images)
Scroll down and rollover titles to change screen image or click on title to view image.
Saddle oyster
Monia squama
- exterior upper valve 1

Saddle oyster
Monia squama
-exterior upper valve 2

Saddle oyster
Monia squama
- interior upper valve 1

Saddle oyster
Monia squama
- interior upper valve 2

Saddle oyster
Monia squama
- inside lower valve 1

Saddle oyster
Monia squama
- live animal underside 1

Saddle oyster
Monia squama
- live animals undersides 1

Saddle oyster
Monia squama
- side view 1

Saddle oyster
Monia squama
- live animal top view 1

Saddle oyster
Monia squama
- live animal top view 2

Saddle oyster
Monia squama
- live animal top view 3

Saddle oyster
Monia squama
- plastic tray / flotsam 1

Images of species taken of animal on plastic flotsam at Sennen Cove, Cornwall. 05.01.12.

Species may be overlooked for overly large Heteranomia squamula. Species was found up to be up to 30mm across. Upper valves on images displayed are covered in by a sea mat. The sea mat Disporella hispida was also present on the same plastic tray as these were found. This was the first record of the species in Cornwall, normally the species has a more northerly distribution.

Very similar species Heteranomia squamula.

Scientific and European Names: Monia squama, Pododesmus striata.

Ref: Marine Bivalve Shells of the British Isles

A big thank you to Dr. Jan Light of the Conchological Society of Great Britain and Ireland for help with the identification.

Monia squama Pododesmus striata Saddle Oyster marine bivalve images
The main objective of this website is in furthering environmental awareness and education through the medium of photography. To increase awareness and access to the wildlife of the region and help
people find and identify it. Sometimes the difference between species is obvious but many species can only be determined by observing microscopic characteristics that are specific to any one species.