Arcidae – Arcinae: Barbatia pistachia (Lamarck, 1819) (‘hairy ark-shell’)

Synonym(s): pistachia Lamarck, 1819 fasciata Reeve, 1844 radula E. A. Smith, 1885.

Typical shell-length 54 mm. Periostracum persistent. Lives subtidally and offshore embedded in sponges, especially in areas with strong currents. Native. Endemic to southeastern and southwestern Australia (QLD, NSW, TAS, VIC, SA and WA). In Tasmanian waters, this is a widespread species, but only common in the N.