Dentamussium obliteratum (Linnaeus, 1758)
65.7mm

Dentamussium obliteratum is rarely seen at Kwajalein, but it is probably moderately common in the proper habitat. They appear to primarily live under flat dead plating coral slabs or large fungiid corals on the lagoon bottom at depths of 30m and deeper, although one was found under a rock on top of a lagoon pinnacle in about 10m of water. These clams are able to swim farther and more effectively than most pectens we have seen. One was seen flitting away at the edge of a light beam on a night dive near the base of a lagoon pinnacle.

Bottom valve of above specimen.

Created 9 January 2018
Updated 22 October 2022

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