| Anomiidae | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Bivalvia |
| Order: | Ostreoida |
| Family: | Anomiidae Rafinesque, 1815 |
| Genera and species | |
|
7 genera, See text. |
|
Anomiidae is a family of bivalve molluscs related to scallops and oysters, and known as anomiids. It contains seven genera.
The family is known by several common names, including jingle shells, saddle oysters and mermaid's toenails.
Contents |
Anomiids have extremely thin, translucent, paper-like shells. There is often a hole in the lower shell, caused by growth of the shell around the byssus. The shell follows the shape of the object it lies on - usually a rock or a large shell of another creature.
The flesh of members of this family is distastefully bitter and is not eaten. However, industrial uses of the shell include manufacture into, or as part of, glue, chalk, paint, shellac and solder. Capiz shells, the shells of Placuna placenta, the windowpane oyster, are made into decorative objects such as lampshades, in Asia.
Genera and species in the family Anomiidae include:
Subfamily Anomiinae
Subfamily Placunanomiinae