Cognata Tellin Shell, Leporimetis cognata

Cognata Tellin Shell, Leporimetis cognata. Shell collected off the beach at Punta Chivato, Baja California Sur, February 2022. Size:  6.7 cm (2.6 inches) x 5.5 cm (2.2 inches) x 2.0 cm (0.8 inches). Collection, photograph and Identification courtesy of Colin Campbell, DVM, Punta Chivato, Baja California Sur.

Cognata Tellin Shell, Leporimetis cognata. Shell collected off the beach at Punta Chivato, Baja California Sur, February 2022. Size:  7.2 cm (2.8 inches) x 6.3 cm (2.5 inches) x 2.0 cm (0.8 inches). Collection, photograph and Identification courtesy of Colin Campbell, DVM, Punta Chivato, Baja California Sur.

The Cognata Tellin, Leporimetis cognata (Pilsbry and Vanatta, 1902), is a bivalve mollusk that is a member of the Tellinidae Family of Tellins. These shells are relatively large, but thin. They are subquadrate in shape and well inflated. The anterior is broadly rounded. The posterior slope has a flattened fold, giving the shell a twisted appearance. The exterior is marked with fine, concentric, lines. The exterior is chalky white. The interior is marked with fine pits. Cognata Tellin shells reach a maximum of 8.0 cm (3.1 inches) in length and 7.0 cm (2.8 inches) in height.

Cognata Tellins are found on sand and mud substrates, often in the area of rocks or boulders. They are found in the intertidal zone to depths up to 24 M (79 feet). They range from Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur to Peru. They are found throughout the Sea of Cortez.

Synonyms include: Apolymetis clarki, Florimetis cognata, Lutricola cognata, Psammotreta (leporimetis) cognata, and Psammotreta cognata.