Amethyst gem clam

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Amethyst gem clam
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Bivalvia Order: Veneroida Family: Veneridae Genus: Gemma Deshayes, 1853 Species: G. gemma
Binomial name
Gemma gemma Totten, 1834
Synonyms
Gemma purpurea Lea, 1842

The amethyst gem clam, Gemma gemma, is a small species of marine bivalve mollusk. It is a member of the family Veneridae, the Venus clams.

It is one of the smaller species of marine clam, reaching a length of only 5 mm ^[1]. The shell color is whitish or greyish and suffused with purple on both outer and inner surfaces.

This species is native to the Atlantic coast of North America, from Labrador to Texas^[2], but it is now also found as an introduced species in some locations on the Pacific coast ^[3].

[edit] References

1. ^ Sellmer, G P (1967). Functional morphology and ecological life history of the gem clam, Gemma gemma (Eulamellibranchia: Veneridae). Malacologia 5: 37–233. 
2. ^ NOAA. Amethyst gem clam (Gemma gemma). Retrieved on March 25, 2006.
3. ^ Kaustuv R, D Jablonski & J W Valentine. Climate change, species range limits and body size in marine bivalves. Ecology Letters 4: 366–370. doi:10.1046/j.1461-0248.2001.00236.x.