Mesodesmatidae

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Mesodesmatidae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Veneroida
Family: Mesodesmatidae
Gray, 1839
Genera

See text.

Mesodesmatidae is a family of marine bivalve clams of the order Veneroida.

Contents

[edit] Description

Shells are of moderate to large size, solid, porcellanous, laterally elongated or wedge-shaped, and usually compressed. The ligament is weak and inconspicuous, and the resilium is long, narrowly wedge-shaped, and seated in a spoon-shaped chrondrophore. The hinge of the right valve has a thin oblique cardinal in front of the resilium, and two divergent laterals, with sockets and paired laterals in the opposite valve. The pallial sinus is moderate to deep.

[edit] Habitat

Found in shallow water on coastal beaches.

[edit] Genera

  • Atactodea Dall, 1895
  • Donacilla
  • Mesodesma Deshayes, 1832
  • Monterosatus
  • Paphies Lesson, 1830

[edit] References