Marine species distribution reference map Southern Africa

The list of marine molluscs of

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...

is a list of

saltwater Saline water (more commonly known as salt water) is water that contains a high concentration of dissolved salts (mainly sodium chloride). On the United States Geological Survey (USGS) salinity scale, saline water is saltier than brackish water, ...

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

that form a part of the molluscan fauna of South Africa. This list does not include the land or freshwater molluscs.

Gastropoda

See List of marine gastropods of South Africa

Bivalvia

Bivalves in South Africa include:

Nuculidae Nuculidae is a family of small saltwater clams in the order Nuculida. Species in this family are commonly known as nut clams. The nomenclature of the Western European species in this family is still uncertain. Their systematics has been based ma ...

*'' Nucula nucleus'' Linnaeus, 1758

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 gener ...

– Mussels

*Estuarine mussel '' Arcuatula capensis'' (Cape Agulhas to Mozambique)Branch, G.M. Griffiths, C.L. Branch, M.L. Beckley, L.E. ''Two Oceans: A guide to the marine life of southern Africa.'' 5th impression, David Philip, Cape Town, 2000. *Ribbed mussel '' Aulacomya ater'' (Namibia to Eastern Cape)Jones, Georgina. ''A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula.'' SURG, Cape Town, 2008. *Brack-water mussel '' Brachidontes virgiliae'' (Eastern Cape to Mozambique) *Semistriated mussel '' Brachidontes semistriatus'' (Port Elizabeth to Mozambique) *Black mussel '' Choromytilus meridionalis'' (Namibia to Tsitsikamma) *Half-hairy mussel ''

Gregariella petagnae ''Gregariella'' is a genus of mussels in 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 environment ...

'' (Namibia to central KwaZulu-Natal) *Ear mussel '' Modiolus auriculatus'' (Port Elizabeth to Mozambique) *Mediterranean mussel '' Mytilus galloprovincialis'' (Orange river to Eastern Cape) *Brown mussel '' Perna perna'' (Cape Point to Mozambique) *Ledge mussel ''

Septifer bilocularis ''Septifer bilocularis'' is a marine bivalve species in 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 freshw ...

'' (Port Elizabeth to Mozambique) Arcidae – Ark clams *''

Arca avellana ARCA or Arca may refer to: Companies * Arca-Filmproduktion GmbH, the German film production company of Gero Wecker * Arca Fondi SGR, Italian asset management company * Arca South, an industrial estate in the Philippines * ARCAspace, an aeros ...

'' Lamarck, 1819 (Port Elizabeth to Mozambique) *''

Arca navicularis ARCA or Arca may refer to: Companies * Arca-Filmproduktion GmbH, the German film production company of Gero Wecker * Arca Fondi SGR, Italian asset management company * Arca South, an industrial estate in the Philippines * ARCAspace, an aeros ...

'' Brughiere, 1789 *''

Arca tortuosa ARCA or Arca may refer to: Companies * Arca-Filmproduktion GmbH, the German film production company of Gero Wecker * Arca Fondi SGR, Italian asset management company * Arca South, an industrial estate in the Philippines * ARCAspace, an aeros ...

'' Linnaeus 1758 *''

Barbatia candida ''Barbatia candida'', or the White-bearded ark clam, is a clam in the family Arcidae. It can be found along the Atlantic coast of North America, ranging from North Carolina to Texas, including the West Indies The West Indies is a subreg ...

'' (Helbling, 1779) syn. ''Arca helblingi'' *Oblique ark shell ''

Barbatia obliquata ''Barbatia obliquata'' is a species of bivalve belonging to the family Arcidae. The species is found from South Africa to Japan. It has the common name of oblique ark shell. References obliquata Bivalves described in 1828 Edible mollus ...

'' (Cape Columbine to Mozambique)

Noetiidae Noetiidae is a family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its me ...

*'' Striarca symmetrica'' (Port Elizabeth to Mozambique) Pinnidae – Pen shells *Horse mussel '' Atrina squamifera'' (Cape Columbine to Eastern Cape) *'' Pinna muricata'' (Port Elizabeth to Mozambique)

Gryphaeidae The Gryphaeidae, common name the foam oysters or honeycomb oysters, are a family of marine bivalve mollusks. This family of bivalves is very well represented in the fossil record, however the number of living species is very few. All species h ...

*''

Hyotissa numisma ''Hyotissa'' is a genus of large saltwater oysters, marine bivalve mollusks in the family Gryphaeidae.MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. Hyotissa Stenzel, 1971. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies ...

''(Transkei to Mozambique)

Ostreidae The Ostreidae, the true oysters, include most species of molluscs commonly consumed as oysters. Pearl oysters are not true oysters, and belong to the order Pteriida. Like scallops, true oysters have a central adductor muscle, which means the ...

– True oysters *Weed oyster ''

Ostrea algoensis ''Ostrea'' is a genus of edible oysters, marine bivalve mollusks in the family Ostreidae, the oysters. Fossil records This genus is very ancient. It is known in the fossil records from the Permian to the Quaternary (age range: from 259 ...

'' Sowerby, 1871 *''

Ostrea atherstonei ''Ostrea'' is a genus of edible oysters, marine bivalve mollusks in the family Ostreidae, the oysters. Fossil records This genus is very ancient. It is known in the fossil records from the Permian to the Quaternary (age range: from 259 ...

'' (Saldanha Bay to KwaZulu-Natal south coast) *Natal rock oyster '' Saccostrea cuccullata'' (Port Elizabeth to Mozambique) (syn. ''Crassostrea cuccullata'') *Cape rock oyster '' Striostrea margaritacea'' (Cape Point to Mozambique)

Anomiidae Anomiidae is a family of saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs related to scallops and oysters, and known as anomiids. It contains seven genera. The family is known by several common names, including jingle shells, mermaid's toenails, and sa ...

– Saddle oysters *Saddle oyster '' Anomia achaeus'' (Port Elizabeth to Mozambique)

– Honeycomb oysters *''

'' Pteriidae – Pearl oysters *Cape pearl oyster '' Pinctada capensis'' (Cape Agulhas to Mozambique)

Pectinidae Scallop () is a common name that encompasses various species of marine bivalve mollusks in the taxonomic family Pectinidae, the scallops. However, the common name "scallop" is also sometimes applied to species in other closely related families ...

– Scallops * Dwarf fan shell '' Chlamys tincta'' (Cape Columbine to Mozambique) *Scallop ''

Pecten sulcicostatus ''Pecten sulcicostatus'', the South African scallop, is a species of large scallops or saltwater clams. They are marine bivalve molluscs in the family Pectinidae Scallop () is a common name that encompasses various species of marine bivalve ...

'' (Cape Point to Eastern Cape) Limidae – File shells *File shell '' Limaria tuberculata'' (Cape Columbine to KwaZulu-Natal south coast)

Cardiidae A cockle is an edible marine bivalve mollusc. Although many small edible bivalves are loosely called cockles, true cockles are species in the family Cardiidae. MolluscaBase eds. (2022). MolluscaBase. Cardiidae Lamarck, 1809. Accessed through: W ...

– Cockles *Cockle '' Trachycardium flavum'' (Central KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique) *'' Trachycardium rubicundum'' (Eastern Transkei to Mozambique) Tridacnidae – Giant clams *Giant clam '' Tridacna squamosa'' (Northern KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique) *'' Tridacna maxima'' (Zululand) Mactridae – Trough shells *Otter shell '' Lutraria lutraria'' (Namibia to Eastern Cape) *Smooth trough shell '' Mactra glabrata'' (Cape Columbine to Mozambique) *Angular surf clam '' Scissodesma spengleri'' (Cape Point to Eastern Cape) Carditidae *Rectangular false cockle '' Cardita variegata'' (Mossel Bay to Mozambique) *Dead man's hands '' Thecalia concamerata'' (Port Nolloth to Transkei) Condylocardiidae *Rough false cockle '' Carditella rugosa'' (Mossel Bay to central KwaZulu-Natal) *'' Carditella capensis'' (West coast)

Solenidae Solenidae, commonly called "razor shells", is a family of marine bivalve molluscs in the unassigned Euheterodonta. Taxonomy Originally, razor shells were all classified as Solenidae. Then, the genera were grouped into two sub-families, the Cult ...

*Pencil bait '' Solen capensis'' (Namaqualand to Eastern Cape) *'' Solen cylindraceus'' (Transkei to Mozambique)

Lucinidae Lucinidae, common name hatchet shells, is a family of saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs. These bivalves are remarkable for their endosymbiosis with sulphide-oxidizing bacteria. Characteristics The members of this family have a worldwi ...

*Smooth platter shell '' Loripes clausus'' Philippi 1848 (Mossel Bay to Mozambique)

Unionidae The Unionidae are a family of freshwater mussels, the largest in the order Unionida, the bivalve molluscs sometimes known as river mussels, or simply as unionids. The range of distribution for this family is world-wide. It is at its most divers ...

*Toothless platter shell '' Anodontia edentula'' Linnaeus 1758 (Mossel Bay to Mozambique) Lasaeidae *Dwarf rusty clam '' Lasaea adansoni turtoni'' (Cape Point to Mozambique) Gmelin 1791 *'' Tellimya trigona'' (West coast) Tellinidae Gastrana matadoa 002

*Ridged tellin '' Gastrana matadoa'' (Cape Point to northern KwaZulu-Natal) *Littoral tellin '' Macoma litoralis'' (Mossel Bay to Mozambique) *Port Alfred tellin '' Tellina alfredensis'' Linnaeus 1758 (Cape Point to KwaZulu-Natal south coast) *'' Tellina capsoides'' (Durban to Mozambique) *Gilchrist's tellin '' Tellina gilchristi'' (Cape Columbine to Eastern Cape) *'' Tellina trilatera'' (Orange river to Transkei)

Teredinidae The shipworms are marine bivalve molluscs in the family Teredinidae: a group of saltwater clams with long, soft, naked bodies. They are notorious for boring into (and commonly eventually destroying) wood that is immersed in sea water, including ...

*Shipworm '' Bankia carinata'' (Mossel Bay to Mozambique) Donacidae – Wedge shells *'' Donax bipartitus'' (East London to Mozambique) *Round ended wedge shell '' Donax burnupi'' (Cape Point to Mozambique) *Slippery wedge shell '' Donax lubricus'' (Port Alfred to Mozambique) *Ridged wedge shell '' Donax madagscariensis'' (Transkei to Mozambique) *White mussel or Wedge shell '' Donax serra'' (Namibia to Transkei) *'' Donax sordidus'' (Cape Point to Transkei) Psammobiidae – Sunset clams *Sunset clam '' Hiatula lunulata'' (Transkei to Mozambique) *Sand tellin '' Psammotellina capensis'' (Cape Agulhas to Transkei)

Veneridae The Veneridae or venerids, common name: Venus clams, are a very large family of minute to large, saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs. Over 500 living species of venerid bivalves are known, most of which are edible, and many of which are ex ...

– Venus shells *Heart clam '' Dosinia lupinus orbignyi'' (Namibia to Eastern Cape) *'' Dosinia hepatica'' (Mossel Bay to Mozambique) *Beaked clam '' Eumarcia paupercula'' (Mossel Bay to Mozambique) *Ribbed venus '' Gafrarium pectinatum alfredense'' (Port Elizabeth to Mozambique) *Zigzag clam '' Pitar abbreviatus'' (Cape Point to Mozambique) *Mottled venus '' Sunetta contempta bruggeni''? (Cape Point to northern KwaZulu-Natal) *Streaked sand clam '' Tivela compressa'' (Cape Point to Eastern Cape) *'' Tivela polita'' (Transkei to Mozambique) *Corrugated venus '' Venerupis corrugatus'' (Namibia to central KwaZulu-Natal) *Warty venus ''

Venus verrucosa ''Venus verrucosa'', the warty venus, is a species of saltwater clam. It is a species of marine bivalve mollusc in the family Veneridae, sometimes collectively known as the venus clams. Distribution This species is found around the European coas ...

''(Namibia to Mozambique)

Polyplacophora

Chitons (Polyplacophora) in South Africa include: Ischnochitonidae *Textile chiton '' Ischnochiton textilis'' (Gray, 1828) (Namibia to central KwaZulu-Natal)Day, J.H. ''A guide to marine life on South African shores.'' Balkema, Cape Town, 1969 *Dwarf chiton '' Ischnochiton oniscus'' (Krauss, 1848) (Cape Columbine to Mozambique) *Ribbed scale chiton '' Ischnochiton bergoti'' (Velain, 1877) (Namibia to Cape Point) *'' Ischnochiton hewitti''

Chitonidae Chitonidae is a family of chitons or polyplacophorans, marine mollusks whose shell is composed of eight articulating plates or valves. There are fifteen extant genera in three subfamilies. Subfamilies and genera Subfamilies and genera within th ...

*Tulip chiton '' Chiton (Rhyssoplax) politus'' Spengler, 1797 syn ''Chiton tulipa'' (Quoy & Gaimard, 1835) (Cape Columbine to KwaZulu-Natal south coast) *Brooding chiton '' Chiton nigrovirescens'' de Blainville, 1825 (Namibia to Cape Agulhas) (accepted as '' Radsia nigrovirescens'') *Black chiton '' Onithochiton literatus'' (Krauss, 1848) (Cape Point to Mozambique)

Callochitonidae Callochitonidae is a family of molluscs belonging to the order Chitonida. Genera: * ''Callochiton'' Gray, 1847 * '' Eudoxochiton'' Shuttleworth, 1853 * ''Leloupia ''Leloupia'' is a monotypic genus of chitons belonging to the family Callochitoni ...

*Broad chiton '' Callochiton castaneus'' (Wood, 1815) (Orange river to northern KwaZulu-Natal)Kilburn, R. and Rippey, E. ''Sea Shells of Southern Africa'' MacMillan South Africa 1982 Acanthochitona *Spiny chiton ''

Acanthochitona garnoti ''Acanthochitona garnoti'', the spiny chiton, is a medium-sized polyplacophoran mollusc in the family Acanthochitonidae, found on the coast of southern Africa. Description This species is conspicuous for the nine paired tufts or rosettes of lon ...

'' de Blainville, 1825 (Cape Columbine to KwaZulu-Natal south coast) *'' Craspedochiton producta'' Phil Chaetopleuridae *Giant chiton or Armadillo ''

Dinoplax gigas ''Dinoplax gigas'', the giant chiton, is a species of chiton in the family (biology), family Chaetopleuridae. It is a marine (ocean), marine mollusc. Description ''Dinoplax gigas'' normally reach a length of about , but exceptionally may grow ...

'' Gmelin, 1791 (Cape Point to KwaZulu-Natal south coast) *'' Dinoplax validifossus'' Ashby (Northern Transkei to Kwazulu-Natal) *Hairy chiton '' Chaetopleura (Chaetopleura) papilio'' (Spengler, 1797) (Namibia to Cape Point) *Orange hairy chiton '' Chaetopleura (Chaetopleura) pertusa'' (Reeve, 1847) (Cape Columbine to northern KwaZulu-Natal)

Cephalopoda

Cephalopods in South Africa include: ; Octopoda – Octopus Octopus vulgaris2

Octopodidae The Octopodidae comprise the family containing the majority of known octopus species. Genera The World Register of Marine Species lists these genera: *''Abdopus'' Norman & Finn, 2001 *''Ameloctopus'' Norman, 1992 *''Amphioctopus'' P. Fischer, 1 ...

*Common octopus ''

Octopus vulgaris The common octopus (''Octopus vulgaris'') is a mollusc belonging to the class Cephalopoda. ''Octopus vulgaris'' is one of the most studied of all octopus species, and also one of the most intelligent. It ranges from the eastern Atlantic, extends ...

'' Cuvier, 1797 (Namibia to northern KwaZulu-Natal) *Giant octopus '' Octopus magnificus'' Villanueva et al., 1992 (syn. ''Enteroctopus magnificus'') *Brush tipped octopus '' Aphrodoctopus schultzei'' Hoyle, 1910 (Cape Columbine to Cape Point) (syn. ''Eledone thysanophora'') Argonautidae Argonauta argo - Oslo Zoological Museum - IMG 9071

Argonauta argo - Oslo Zoological Museum - IMG 9071

*Paper nautilus '' Argonauta argo'' Linnaeus, 1758 (Cape Point to northern KwaZulu-Natal) ; Teuthida – Squid

Loliginidae Loliginidae, commonly known as pencil squids, is an aquatic family of squid classified in the order Myopsida. Taxonomy The family Loliginidae was formerly classified in the order Teuthida. Taxonomic list The classification below follows ...

*Indian Ocean squid '' Loligo duvauceli'' Orbigny, 1848 (Port Alfred to Mozambique) *Chokka or Calimari '' Loligo vulgaris reynaudi'' (Orbigny, 1845) (Orange river to Eastern Cape) (syn. ''Loligo reynaudi'' Orbigny, 1845) *Diamond squid '' Thysanoteuthis rhombus'' Troschel, 1857 ;

Sepiolida Bobtail squid (order Sepiolida) are a group of cephalopods closely related to cuttlefish. Bobtail squid tend to have a rounder mantle than cuttlefish and have no cuttlebone. They have eight suckered arms and two tentacles and are generally quite ...

– Bobtail squid *Unidentified species (Cape Peninsula, both sides) ; Sepiida – Cuttlefish Sepiidae *'' Sepia papillata'' Quoy & Gaimard, 1832 *Beautiful cuttlefish '' Sepia (Hemisepius) pulchra'' Roeleveld & Liltved, 1985 *'' Sepia simoniana'' Thiele, 1920 *Tuberculate cuttlefish '' Sepia tuberculata'' Lamarck, 1798 (Cape Columbine to Eastern Cape) *Common cuttlefish '' Sepia vermiculata'' Quoy and Gaimard, 1832 (Orange river to Mozambique) ; Spirulida – Ram's horn squid Spirulidae *Ram's horn shell '' Spirula spirula'' Linnaeus 1758 (Eastern Cape to Mozambique)

Scaphopoda

Tusk shells (Scaphopoda) in South Africa include: Dentaliidae *'' Dentalium regulare'' E.A. Smith, 1903 (Jeffreys Bay to Durban)Branch, George. and Branch, Margo. ''The living shores of southern Africa''. Struik, Cape Town, 1981. *'' Antalis longirostrum'' (Reeve, 1843) (Indo-Pacific to KwaZulu-Natal south coast)

Gadilidae Gadilidae is a family of tusk shells in the order Gadilida. Genera * ''Bathycadulus'' Scarabino, 1995 * '' Cadulus'' Philippi, 1844 * ''Dischides'' Jeffreys, 1867 * '' Gadila'' Gray, 1847 * ''Polyschides'' Pilsbry & Sharp, 1898 * ...

*'' Siphonodentalium booceras'' (Tomlin, 1926) *''

Cadulus ''Cadulus'' is a large genus of small tusk shells in the family Gadilidae. It contains over fifty-one described species.Scarabino, V.; Gofas, S. (2012). Cadulus. Accessed through: World Register of fresh water Species at http://www.marinespecie ...

'' spp. Three other species known here, all inhabiting deep water

References