Description: This solid bivalve has an overall elongate oval shape and reaches up to 2.5 cm. The outer surface is white, cream or yellow, and even sometimes pink, orange, chestnut or a dull red. The colour is often concentrated in contrasting bands, with some rays of red-brown. Outer surface may be covered in part by the thin, satiny periostracum. Growth stages are clear and there is a structure of fine concentric ridges on the outer surface of the valves. The valves have a very small posterior gape. Inside of the shell is a more intense version of outer colour. Pallial sinus is very deep and U-shaped.

Habitat: Coarse sand or gravel, down to around 60 m.

Distribution: Recorded all around Britain and Ireland.

Similar Species: Could be confused with Gari depressa or Gari fervensis.

Key Identification Features:

• Small posterior gap.
• Up to 2.5 cm in length.
• Contrasting bands of colour.
• Inside a stronger version of outer colour.

Distribution Map from NBN: Gari tellinella at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Gari tellinella at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Gari tellinella at World Register of Marine Species.