Laqueus californianus

Biology/Natural History: Sexes are separate. Articulate brachiopods such as this species have interlocking teeth at the hinge. The teeth prevent the shell valves from being opened more than a few degrees from each other, and will break at the hinge if an attempt is made to open the shell farther. Articulate brachiopods also have a blind gut with no anus, so any undigested material must be spit back up through the mouth.

Attached to rock

Geographical Range: British Columbia to Southern California, Sea of Japan

Depth Range: Occasionally intertidal; subtidal to 486 m

This brachiopod has a pedicle and the shell is at least as long as wide, and inflated. The anterior margins of the valves are smooth, straight, and without teeth. The shell is white or with a light tan periostracum, thin, and almost translucent. Shells may be smooth to prominently ribbed. The long, slender pedicle passes through a well-formed hole near the hinge of the larger valve but the hole does not obliterate the apex of the valve. Up to 3 cm long.

How to Distinguish from Similar Species: Crania californica has no pedicle and one valve is cemented to the rock like a jingle shell. Terebratalia transversa is wider than long and the anterior margin of the shell is undulating. Terebratulina unguicula has small teeth along the anterior margin, the shell is not translucent, and the apex of the shell is completely obliterated by the hole for the pedicle.