BIOTIC Species Information for Ensis ensis
|Researched by||Jacqueline Hill||Data supplied by||MarLIN|
|Refereed by||This information is not refereed.|
||Feeding method||Active suspension feeder
|Typical food types||Suspended organic detritus||Habit||Burrow dwelling|
|Bioturbator||Flexibility||None (< 10 degrees)|
|Height||Insufficient information||Growth Rate||2-4 cm/year|
|Adult dispersal potential||10-100m||Dependency||Independent|
|General Biology Additional Information||Typical abundance
Abundance of Ensis sp. varies from high to low density. In favourable conditions - such as the lee of rocks, rocks and islands for Ensis arcuatus on the western coast, individuals are found in high densities in 'beds' which interchange individuals with the surrounding areas where they occur in a more dispersed pattern (Fahy et al. in press).
Size ranges Size range given for Ensis ensis. Ensis siliqua males and females up to 20 cm and Ensis arcuatus males and females up to 15 cm.