Arcidae – Anadarinae: Anadara (Anadara) trapezia (Deshayes, 1839) (‘mud ark-shell’)

Synonym(s): trapezia Deshayes, 1840 nicholsoni Iredale, 1927.

Typical shell-length 66 mm. The solid shell is usually heavily worn and discoloured. Lives intertidally and subtidally on mud. Native. Occurs in southeastern and southwestern Australia (QLD, NSW, (TAS), VIC, SA and WA); also New Zealand. In Tasmanian waters, this species is mostly recorded in the NW and around Flinders Island, with scattered localities along the E coast. Known only as a subfossil, dating from a past warmer period.