Limaria hians: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Species of marine clam in the family Limidae from the northeastern Atlantic}}

[[Image:Flame shells.jpg|thumb|right|Two flame shells that have been torn from their protective nest at the bottom of Loch Carron]]

{{distinguish|flame scallop}}

A '''Flame shell''' (''Limaria hians'') is a striking bivalve [[mollusc]] which resembles a [[scallop]] but has a bright orange fringe of filaments emerging from between its shells. They live in colonies on the sea bed in Scottish lochs, such as in [[Loch Carron]].

{{Speciesbox

| image = Flame shells.jpg

[[Image:Flame shells.jpg|thumb|right| image_caption = Two flame shells thatwhich have been torn from their protective nest at the bottom of [[Loch Carron]] in [[Scotland]]

| genus = Limaria

| species = hians

| authority = ([[Johann Friedrich Gmelin|Gmelin]], 1791)

| synonyms = {{specieslist|hidden=yes

|Lima aperta| G. B. Sowerby II, 1843

|Lima dehiscens| Conrad, 1837

|Lima hians| (Gmelin, 1791)

|Lima laevigata| Risso, 1826

|Lima levigata| Risso, 1826

|Lima oblonga| S. V. Wood, 1839

|Lima tenera| W. Turton, 1825

|Lima tenuis| Leach, 1852

|Lima vitrina| T. Brown, 1827

|Mantellum hians| (Gmelin, 1791)

|Mantellum hians var. mediterranea| Monterosato, 1884

|Ostrea glaciata| Salis Marschlins, 1793

|Ostrea hians| Gmelin, 1791

|Radula hians| (Gmelin, 1791)

|Radula hians var. transiens| Cerulli-Irelli, 1907}}

|synonyms_ref = <ref name=worms/>

}}

'''''Limaria hians''''', the '''flame shell''', is a [[species]] of small saltwater clam, a [[marine (ocean)|marine]] [[bivalve]] [[mollusc]] in the family [[Limidae]].<ref name=worms>{{cite WoRMS |author=MolluscaBase|year= 2024|title=Limaria hians (Gmelin, 1791) |id=140235 |accessdate=30 December 2024}}</ref> This species is native to the northeastern Atlantic Ocean.

They make sticky threads to bind stones and shells into a felt-lined nest. Holes in the reef allow fresh seawater to flow through, preventing stagnation. They can't be seen unless the mat-like nest is disturbed, or torn open by an anchor or a hand.

==Biology==

The flame shell resembles a [[scallop]] with a bright orange fringe of tentacle-like filaments emerging from between the [[valve (mollusc)|valve]] of its shell.

These bivalves create nests through the use of byssal threads to bind small stones, shells and other detritus together, enclosing themselves as form of protection. Individual nests expand over time, eventually overlapping with other nests and consequently forming expansive reefs. Holes in the reef allow fresh seawater to flow through, preventing stagnation. These reefs support a diverse marine ecosystem with one study showing six nest complexes supporting 19 species of algae and 265 species of invertebrates.<ref>{{cite web|title=Flame shell beds|url=https://www.nature.scot/landscapes-and-habitats/habitat-types/coast-and-seas/marine-habitats/flame-shell-beds|website=www.nature.scot|publisher=[[NatureScot]]|accessdate=3 September 2020}}</ref>

==Distribution==

This species is found in the northeast Atlantic, ranging from [[Lofoten]] to the [[Canary Islands]], including the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. In the British Isles, the distribution of this species is primarily in the west coast of [[Scotland]] from the sublittoral (below low tide), down to 100m, although there are patchy records of the species being found in more southerly regions of the United Kingdom. There are a number of well-known colonies on the sea bed in [[Loch Carron]], below [[Strome Castle]]. In 2012 a bed of 100 million flame shells covering an area of 75 hectares was found during a survey of [[Loch Alsh]] undertaken by [[Heriot-Watt University]] on behalf of [[Marine Scotland]]. [[Richard Lochhead]], [[Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment]] said: "The flame shell must be considered among the most remarkable species in our waters, with a dazzling array of orange tentacles. Many would place such an exotic species in far-flung tropical reefs - not realising they dwell under the waves just off the coast of [[Skye]]. This important discovery may be the largest grouping of flame shells anywhere in the world."<ref>{{cite news|title= Marine Scotland survey uncovers 'huge' flame shell bed|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-20838775|publisher=[[BBC News Online]]|date=2012-12-26|accessdate=2012-12-27}}</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist}}

* [http://www.divemagazine.co.uk/news/article.asp?UAN=2420&V=2&SP=324534704710584819228 British Beasts - Flame Shell & Horse Mussel]

* [http://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/Limariahians.htm Marine Life Information Network]

==Further reading==

* {{cite journal|author=Hall-Spencer JM & Moore PG|year=2000|title=Limaria hians (Mollusca: Limacea): a neglected reef-forming keystone species|journal=Aquatic Conservation|volume=10|issue=4|pages=267–277|doi=10.1002/1099-0755(200007/08)10:4<267::AID-AQC407>3.0.CO;2-B|hdl=10026.1/1363|hdl-access=free}}

* {{cite journal|author=Dr Harvey Tyler-Walters|year=2008|title=Limaria hians. Gaping file shell|journal=Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme|publisher=[[Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom]]|accessdate=29 November 2014|url= http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesinformation.php?speciesID=3679}}

==External links==

* [http://www.divemagazine.co.uk/newscomponent/content/article.asp?UAN=2420&V=2&SP=324534704710584819228/234-british-beasts/2224-british-beasts-flame-shell-horse-mussel British Beasts - Flame Shell & Horse Mussel]

* [http://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/Limariahians.htm Marine Life Information Network] - Limaria hians]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q3009849}}

==See also==

[[Fauna of Scotland#Fish and sea life|Fauna of Scotland]]

[[Category:Molluscs Bivalvesof Europe]]

[[Category:Limidae]]

[[Category:Bivalves described in 1791]]

[[Category:Taxa named by Johann Friedrich Gmelin]]