Solemya

Solemya
The holotype of Solemya elarraichensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Bivalvia
Subclass:	Cryptodonta
Order:	Solemyoida
Family:	Solemyidae
Genus:	Solemya Lamarck, 1818[1]

Solemya is a genus of saltwater clams, marine bivalve mollusks in the family Solemyidae, the awning clams. Solemya is the type genus of the family Solemyidae.

Description

The shell valves of species in this genus are fragile and subcylindrical in shape; there are no hinge teeth. The shell has a persistent thin periostracum which extends beyond the valve margins, hence the common name "awning clams".

These clams are chemoautotrophs, they use bacterial symbionts.

Species

Species within the genus Solemya include:

• Solemya africana
• Solemya atacama
• Solemya australis
• Solemya borealis
• Solemya elarraichensis
• Solemya flava
• Solemya moretonensis
• Solemya notialis
• Solemya occidentalis
• Solemya panamensis
• Solemya parkinsonii
• Solemya pervernicosa
• Solemya pusilla
• Solemya tagiri
• Solemya terraereginae
• Solemya velesiana
• Solemya velum
• Solemya winkworthi

References