Gigantidas gladius

Gigantidas gladius
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Subclass: Pteriomorphia
Order: Mytiloida
Family: Mytilidae
Genus: Gigantidas
Species: G. gladius
Binomial name
Gigantidas gladius
Marshall, 2003

Gigantidas gladius is a species of large, deepwater, hydrothermal vent mussel, a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Mytilidae, the mussels.

Distribution and habitat

These mussels are found around deep-sea hydrotherma vents on the southern Kermadec Ridge, New Zealand. They form dense beds in these sites.

Description

The shells of this species are up to 30 cm long.

References