Abra nitida has an oval-shaped shell of two valves (halves) that are of the same shape and size and up to 2 cm in length and 1.2 cm in height. The valves are asymmetrical with the tip of the valves (beak) positioned behind the dorso-ventral mid-line and pointing inwards towards the valves and to the posterior. The shell is brittle to the touch and the surface bears microscopic concentric lines. The external shell surface is a glossy, pearly white, sometimes translucent and is scattered with minute flecks. The interior surface of the hinge is marked with a spoon-shaped pit (chondrophore) near the beak. An indentation is present towards the posterior of the inner hinge as well as adductor muscle scars that are longer and thinner in the anterior region than in the posterior region. The interior of each valve is glossy and translucent in appearance. The right valve bears 2 small, teeth projecting from the hinge and 2 more teeth that are either side of the hinge whereas the left valve bears 1 tooth from the hinge and 2 weaker teeth, again either side of the hinge. The body is simple, bearing a wedge-shaped foot and two very long siphons.Abra nitida is similar to both Abra alba, that is larger and less elongate, and Abra prismatica, that is not quite as oval. Abra nitida mainly feeds on detritus.

Belgian Exclusive Economic Zone, British Isles, Dutch Exclusive Economic Zone, East Coast of England, English Channel, European waters (ERMS scope), Greek Exclusive Economic Zone, Irish Exclusive economic Zone, Mediterranean Sea, South Norway, Swedish Exclusive Economic Zone, United Kingdom Exclusive Economic Zone, West Africa, Wimereux

Depth range based on 991 specimens in 2 taxa.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 317 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 0 - 454
  Temperature range (°C): 4.804 - 16.565
  Nitrate (umol/L): 0.437 - 13.622
  Salinity (PPS): 18.292 - 39.053
  Oxygen (ml/l): 4.014 - 6.964
  Phosphate (umol/l): 0.136 - 0.905
  Silicate (umol/l): 1.801 - 40.799

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 0 - 454

Temperature range (°C): 4.804 - 16.565

Nitrate (umol/L): 0.437 - 13.622

Salinity (PPS): 18.292 - 39.053

Oxygen (ml/l): 4.014 - 6.964

Phosphate (umol/l): 0.136 - 0.905

Silicate (umol/l): 1.801 - 40.799
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

 Abra nitida inhabits self-made burrows in mud, sandy mud, silty sand and muddy gravel in the sublittoral zone to 183 metres.