Recording Marine Life


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Records of Pholas dactylus

Number seen/Abundance Date Location Comments Recorded by
A 2003-06-11
50m SE of Mumbles Pier Linear stiff clay, slope rising steeply from 2.1m to 0.1m bcd.		 Burrows were mainly present in the lower half of slope and averaged 1-2 per 0.1m2. Length of linear slope feature was at least 15 and it continued parallel to shore in both directions. One piddock specimen (14 cm shell length) was dug out of clay to check identification. Photographs of the specimen were sent to mollusc experts at National Museum of Wales, who confirmed that it is Pholas dactylus. Jon Moore
P 2005-04-07 Salcombe Harbour
Salcombe Harbour, north of Whitestrand Quay		 30 metre square (approx) seen by harbour boatman in thick clay / mud Nigel Mortimer
P 2005-03-12 Firestone Bay
Firestone Bay, Plymouth Sound		 Seen on lower shore Seashore Safari
Common 2009-07-18 Eastbourne, below Pinnacle
Mainly soft bedrock with pools and some pebble and sandy areas. Storms previous day and persistant strong wind. Some unidentified hydroids (?Obelia) also found 2 metre low tide so water level fairly high		 Evidence of bore holes all over the bed rock and some fresh looking shells found Nigel Sawyer
Common 2009-08-21 Cow Gap near Eastbourne
Beach consisting mainly of bolders, cobbles, pebbles with patchs of clay and sand.		 Few shells many in rock Nigel Sawyer
Abdundant 2009-09-21 Eastbourne Pier
The pier at Eastbourne. Sandy beach below shingle with some soft bedrock with pools. In addition to the list Mactra stultrom common, as were hydroids (unidentified on the pier structure)		 Many shells, and holes in bedrock with shells still in Nigel Sawyer
2 2009-10-25 Bexhill on Sea
Shingle shore at high tide		 Shells washed up on shore Nigel Sawyer
Common 2010-04-21 Cow Gap, Beachy Head Sussex
Rock pools and sandstone area. Area of sand and some mud/ sand patches amongst the boulders and other rocks. Jaera sp also seen. Pools near the cliff had the seaweed Dumontia incrassata and shells of Mactra stultorum were also found (neither listed in DB)		 In areas with softer rocks Nigel Sawyer
Common 21/03/2011 Hastings
Shingle and rocks with some rockpools and sandy areas		 Several broken shells found Nigel Sawyer
Abdundant 26/12/2011 Eastbourne Pier
The area of shingle and sand around the pier Strandline consisted of absolutely 1000s of oyster shells amonst a few other things. Ensis ensis was also found, at least 6 shell pairs		 In all areas were there is soft rock Nigel Sawyer
Abundant 01/07/2010 Hilbre island
Mouth of River Dee estuary, sandy intertidal		 Boring into mud Bryony Caswell
3 22/07/2011 Hope Gap Sussex
Chalk platform. 1m low tide and investigated area straight in front of the steps. Many cobbles and stones in the gulleys which were turned and looked at. A bootlace worm, encrusting bryozoan, a couple of unidentitied (and not photographed) chitons also seen - had to escape the rising tide)		 Broken shells seen Nigel Sawyer
1 31-07-2011 Formby Point
Sand/mud beach		 1 shell found, 5cm long Andrew Roberts
Uncommon 06/08/2011 Hope Gap, Sussex
Chalk platform at low tide (1.2m) Several unidentified seaweeds seen and two scale worms (?Harmothoe impar). ALso Halurus equisetifolius which does not appear in the list		 Seen in broken piece of chalk Nigel Sawyer
Abundant 28/09/2011 Eastbourne
Chalk platform in the east and sandy areas at low tide with soft rock and rock pools.		 Many "holes" and many that "spat" Nigel Sawyer
2 17/06/2012 Splash Point, Seaford
Chalk platform and shingle beach		 Two broken shells found Nigel Sawyer