''Lithophaga lithophaga'', also known as date shell or date mussel,
[ ] is a species of
Bivalvia
Bivalvia (), in previous centuries referred to as the Lamellibranchiata and Pelecypoda, is a class of marine and freshwater molluscs
Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of w ...
belonging to the family
Mytilidae
Mytilidae are a family of small to large marine and brackish-water bivalve molluscs in the order Mytilida. One of the genera, ''Limnoperna'', even inhabits freshwater environments. The order has only this one family which contains some 52 gen ...
.
Fossil record
Fossils of ''Lithophaga lithophaga'' are found in marine strata from the
Miocene
The Miocene ( ) is the first geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and means "less recen ...
until the
Quaternary
The Quaternary ( ) is the current and most recent of the three periods of the Cenozoic Era in the geologic time scale of the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS). It follows the Neogene Period and spans from 2.58 million years ...
(age range: from 15.97 to 0.0 million years ago).
Distribution
This species can be found in northeast
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe ...
, the
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the ea ...
and the
Red Sea
The Red Sea ( ar, البحر الأحمر - بحر القلزم, translit=Modern: al-Baḥr al-ʾAḥmar, Medieval: Baḥr al-Qulzum; or ; Coptic: ⲫⲓⲟⲙ ⲛ̀ϩⲁϩ ''Phiom Enhah'' or ⲫⲓⲟⲙ ⲛ̀ϣⲁⲣⲓ ''Phiom ǹšari''; T ...
.
They are found on the
Adriatic coast
The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Sea) to the ...
of
Croatia
, image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg
, anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, capit ...
and
Montenegro
)
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, map_caption =
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, capital = Podgorica
, coordinates =
, largest_city = capital
, official_languages = M ...
under the name ''prstaci''.
Habitat and biology
![Mithilidae - Lithophaga lithophaga](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/Mithilidae_-_Lithophaga_lithophaga.JPG)
These bivalves live mainly in the area battered by the waves, but they can reach depths of 125 to 200 m. They
bore into marine rocks, producing a boring called ''
Gastrochaenolites''. Their growth is very slow, and to reach the 5 cm length, they require 15 to 35 years. They feed on plankton, algae and debris by filtering them from the water. They reach the sexual maturity after about two years. The number of eggs that are released in a season reach about 120,000 to about 4.5 million. The fertilization takes place in the open water.
Description
Shells of ''Lithophaga lithophaga'' can reach a length of about . They are yellowish or brownish, almost cylindrical, rounded at both ends. The interior is whitish iridescent purple with a pink tinge. These shells are relatively thin. The surface is nearly smooth, covered with growth lines, which sometimes can be quite rough.
Etymology
The Lithophaga lithophaga's name is derived from the Greek word ''lithos:'' meaning rock/stone and the Greek word p''haga/phago:'' meaning to eating or devouring.
Human culture
Historically these shells are considered a delicacy, cooked and served in a broth of white wine, garlic and parsley.
Commercial collection
![Lithophaga lithophaga in Ulcinj](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/Lithophaga_lithophaga_in_Ulcinj.jpg)
The extraction of the shells require dismantling of the rocks where they live and can lead to
desertification
Desertification is a type of land degradation in drylands in which biological productivity is lost due to natural processes or induced by human activities whereby fertile areas become increasingly arid. It is the spread of arid areas caused by ...
of the coast. Several governments have restricted the collection of these shells or even made it wholly illegal, in order to protect the rocks on which they are found. These countries include
Croatia
, image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg
, anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, capit ...
,
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
,
Slovenia
Slovenia ( ; sl, Slovenija ), officially the Republic of Slovenia (Slovene: , abbr.: ''RS''), is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the southeast, an ...
,
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
,
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...
,
Montenegro
)
, image_map = Europe-Montenegro.svg
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Podgorica
, coordinates =
, largest_city = capital
, official_languages = M ...
,
and others, including participants in the
(Bern Convention)
The species is listed in Appendix II of the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
CITES (shorter name for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as the Washington Convention) is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals from the threats of interna ...
(CITES) meaning international trade is regulated by the CITES permit system.
, its population distributed over the Turkish coastline is not considered to be under threat.
References
External links
{{-
lithophaga
Marine molluscs of Europe
Molluscs of the Atlantic Ocean
Molluscs described in 1758
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus
Croatian cuisine
Miocene animals of Europe
Pliocene animals of Europe
Pleistocene animals of Europe
Neogene molluscs
Extant Miocene first appearances