Dwarf Surf Clam
Mulinia lateralis
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Photo credit: Eric A. Lazo-Wasem
Mulinia lateralis – Dwarf surf clam
Habitat:
Description:
Origin and Distribution:
Impacts:
Is it found in Northern Ireland?
How could it get here?
Prevent Spread
You can help by reporting any sightings:@ the Centre for Environmental Data & Recording (CEDaR) - Or via the iRecord App.
Current Legislation Position (Listed on 07 August 2025): This species must not intentionally be brought into the Union; kept; bred; transported to, from or within the United Kingdom, unless for the transportation to facilities in the context of eradication; placed on the market; used or exchanged; permitted to reproduce, grown or cultivated; or released into the environment.
For further queries, you can contact the Invasive Non Native Species (INNS) Team in the Northern Ireland Environment Agency on 028 9056 9558 or Email: invasivespecies@daera-ni.gov.uk
Mulinia lateralis – Dwarf surf clam
Habitat:
- Inhabits shallow, soft-bottomed, inter-tidal and sub-tidal zones
- Favours muddy and sandy sediments
- Often found in estuaries, lagoons and protected coastal bays, buried just below the sediment surface
- Can tolerate a broad range of salinities (5-80ppt) and poor-quality waters
Description:
- A small bivalve mollusc ranging from 7 to 21 mm
- Made up of 2 shells joined by a hinge in the middle
- The shells are smooth, white-cream coloured slightly convex with a triangular outline
- The inside of the shells have a glossy white appearance
Origin and Distribution:
- Native to the Northwest Atlantic Ocean between the Gulf of St Lawrence and Gulf of Mexico
- There are now established populations in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany
- The species was first recorded in the UK, in the Outer Thames Estuary in 2021
- The species was likely introduced to Western Europe via transport in ship ballast water
Impacts:
- Can form high-density populations, displacing native fauna
- With a rapid growth rate, high fecundity and tolerance to stress, they can dominate ecosystems
Is it found in Northern Ireland?
- No, it is not present in Northern Ireland
How could it get here?
- Introduction through ballast water transport is the most likely pathway
- Potential for natural dispersal of plankton via ocean currents
- Could potentially hitchhike on aquaculture consignments
Prevent Spread
- Report all sightings
- Follow the Check, Clean, Dry protocol
You can help by reporting any sightings:@ the Centre for Environmental Data & Recording (CEDaR) - Or via the iRecord App.
Current Legislation Position (Listed on 07 August 2025): This species must not intentionally be brought into the Union; kept; bred; transported to, from or within the United Kingdom, unless for the transportation to facilities in the context of eradication; placed on the market; used or exchanged; permitted to reproduce, grown or cultivated; or released into the environment.
For further queries, you can contact the Invasive Non Native Species (INNS) Team in the Northern Ireland Environment Agency on 028 9056 9558 or Email: invasivespecies@daera-ni.gov.uk