Veneroida
Encyclopedia
The Veneroida or veneroids are an order
of bivalve molluscs. They include some familiar forms such as saltwater clam
s and cockle
s, and a number of freshwater bivalves
including zebra mussel
s.
Veneroids are generally thick-valved, equal valved, and isomyarian (that is, their adductor muscle
s are of equal size). Three main hinge teeth are characteristic of the subclass Heterodonta
to which this order belongs. Many species are active rather than sessile. However they tend to be filter feeder
s, feeding through paired siphons, with a characteristic folded gill
structure adapted to that way of life.
Recent work in molecular systematics has suggested that this order is not monophyletic. If this conclusion is sustained, the order will presumably be broken up in due course.
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
of bivalve molluscs. They include some familiar forms such as saltwater clam
Clam
The word "clam" can be applied to freshwater mussels, and other freshwater bivalves, as well as marine bivalves.In the United States, "clam" can be used in several different ways: one, as a general term covering all bivalve molluscs...
s and cockle
Cockle (bivalve)
Cockle is the common name for a group of small, edible, saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs in the family Cardiidae.Various species of cockles live in sandy sheltered beaches throughout the world....
s, and a number of freshwater bivalves
Freshwater bivalves
Freshwater bivalves are one kind of freshwater molluscs. They are bivalves which live in freshwater, as opposed to saltwater. Although the majority of species of bivalve molluscs live in the sea, a number of different families of bivalves live in freshwater...
including zebra mussel
Zebra mussel
The zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, is a small freshwater mussel. This species was originally native to the lakes of southeast Russia being first described in 1769 by a German zoologist Peter Simon Pallas in the Ural, Volga and Dnieper rivers. They are still found nearby, as Pontic and Caspian...
s.
Veneroids are generally thick-valved, equal valved, and isomyarian (that is, their adductor muscle
Adductor muscle
- Humans :* Adductor muscles of the hip, the most common reference in humans, but may also refer to** Adductor brevis muscle, a muscle in the thigh situated immediately behind the pectineus and adductor longus...
s are of equal size). Three main hinge teeth are characteristic of the subclass Heterodonta
Heterodonta
Heterodonta is a subclass of bivalve molluscs, including the clams and cockles. They are distinguished by having the two halves of the shell be equally sized, and having a few cardinal teeth separated from a number of long lateral teeth. Their shells lack a nacreous layer, and the gills are...
to which this order belongs. Many species are active rather than sessile. However they tend to be filter feeder
Filter feeder
Filter feeders are animals that feed by straining suspended matter and food particles from water, typically by passing the water over a specialized filtering structure. Some animals that use this method of feeding are clams, krill, sponges, baleen whales, and many fish and some sharks. Some birds,...
s, feeding through paired siphons, with a characteristic folded gill
Gill
A gill is a respiratory organ found in many aquatic organisms that extracts dissolved oxygen from water, afterward excreting carbon dioxide. The gills of some species such as hermit crabs have adapted to allow respiration on land provided they are kept moist...
structure adapted to that way of life.
Recent work in molecular systematics has suggested that this order is not monophyletic. If this conclusion is sustained, the order will presumably be broken up in due course.
Classification
- Superfamily Veneroidea
- PetricolidaePetricolidaeThe Petricolidae is a family of bivalves related to the large family Veneridae or Venus clams. Some authors include these genera within the Veneridae as the subfamily Petricolinae.-Genera and species:Genera and species in the family Petricolidae include:...
- VeneridaeVeneridaeThe Veneridae or venerids, also known as the Venus clams, are a very large family of minute to large, saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs. There are over 500 living species of venerid bivalves, most of which are edible, and many of which are exploited as a food source.Many of the most...
- Petricolidae
- Superfamily Astartoidea
- AstartidaeAstartidaeAstartidae is a family of bivalves related to the large family Veneridae or venus clams.-Astartidae Taxonomy:*Astarte J. Sowerby, 1816**Astarte acuticostata J. G. Jeffreys, 1881**Astarte arctica Astartidae is a family of bivalves related to the large family Veneridae or venus clams.-Astartidae...
- Astartidae
- Superfamily Corbiculoidea
- CorbiculidaeCorbiculidaeThe Corbiculidae, common name "basket clams", are a family of aquatic bivalve molluscs in the order Veneroida.Clams in this family release many juveniles into the surrounding waters that have hatched inside the clams . Fertilization is internal...
- SphaeriidaeSphaeriidaeThe Sphaeriidae are a family of small to minute freshwater bivalve molluscs, in the order Veneroida. In the USA they are commonly known as the pea clams and the fingernail clams.-Genera:Genera in the family Sphaeriidae include:* Musculium...
- Corbiculidae
- Superfamily Tellinoidea
- DonacidaeDonacidaeDonacidae, the bean clams or wedge shells, is a family of bivalve molluscs of the order Veneroida. The family is related to the Tellins.The Donacidae are prolific filter feeders, and are an important part of coastal food chains where they occur...
- PsammobiidaePsammobiidaePsammobiidae or sunset clams, are a family of medium-sized saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs of the order Veneroida.-Genera:The following genera are accepted by the database World Register of Marine Species...
- Scrobiculariidae
- SemelidaeSemelidaeThe Semelidae are a family of clams, marine bivalve molluscs of the order Veneroida.-Characteristics:Menbers of this family have rounded or oval, elongated shells, much flattened. The two valves are connected by an internal ligament in contrast to the closely related family Tellinidae where the...
- SolecurtidaeSolecurtidaeSolecurtidae is a family of saltwater clams, marine bivalve mollusks in the order Veneroida.-Genera:Genera in the family Solenidae include:* Sinonovacula* Solecurtus* Tagelus...
- TellinidaeTellinidaeTellinidae is a family of marine bivalve molluscs of the order Veneroida. They live under soft sediments in shallow seas.-Characteristics:Tellinids have rounded or oval, elongated shells, much flattened. The two valves are connected by a large external ligament. The two separate siphons are...
- Donacidae
- Superfamily Arcticoidea
- ArcticidaeArcticidaeArcticidae is a family of bivalve molluscs in the order Veneroida.-Genera in the family Arcticidae:* Arctica** Arctica islandica - ocean quahog* Trigonocardia-References:*...
- Arcticidae
- Superfamily Cardioidea
- Cardiidae
- TridacnidaeTridacnidaeThe Tridacninae are a subfamily of Bivalves colloquially known as giant clams. The family contains the biggest bivalve species, including Tridacna gigas, the giant clam. They have heavy shells, fluted with 4–6 folds. Mantle is usually brightly coloured. They inhabit coral reefs in warm seas of the...
- Superfamily Dreissenoidea
- DreissenidaeDreissenidaeThe Dreissenidae are a family of small freshwater mussels, aquatic bivalve mollusks. They attach themselves to stones or to any other hard surface using a byssus.-Genera:Genera within the family Dreissenidae include:* Congeria...
- Dreissenidae
- Superfamily Galeommatoidea
- GaleommatidaeGaleommatidaeGaleommatidae is a family of small and very small clams or bivalve molluscs in the order Veneroida. They are related to the zebra mussels.-Genera and species:* Aclistothyra McGinty, 1955** Aclistothyra atlantica McGinty, 1955...
- LasaeidaeLasaeidaeLasaeidae is a family of bivalve molluscs, related to the Zebra mussels. They are commonly called kellyclams.-Selected genera and species:* Aligena I...
- Kelliidae
- Galeommatidae
- Superfamily Glossoidea
- GlossidaeGlossidaeGlossidae is a family of Bivalves.-Genera and species:*Glossus**Glossus humanus Linnaeus, 1758 - heart cockle**Glossus vulgaris Reeve, 1845*Meiocardia H. and A. Adams, 1857**Meiocardia agassizii Dall, 1889 - ox-heart clam...
- VesicomyidaeVesicomyidaeVesicomyidae is a family of bivalves. Its genera, with some selected species, are:* Adulomya Kuroda, 1931 ** Adulomya elongata...
- Glossidae
- Superfamily Lucinoidea
- CyrenoididaeCyrenoididaeCyrenoididae is a family of bivalves.-Genera and species:*Cyrenoida Joannis, 1835**Cyrenoida cumingii**Cyrenoida cyrenella**Cyrenoida dupontia Joannis, 1835**Cyrenoida floridana — Florida marsh clam...
- FimbriidaeFimbriidaeFimbriidae is a family of Bivalves. Some modern studies indicate that Fimbriidae should be included in the family Lucinidae. The family contains one recent genus Fimbria with two known species.-Genera and species:...
- LucinidaeLucinidaeLucinidae is a family of saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs.These bivalves are remarkable for their endosymbiosis with sulphide-oxidizing bacteria.-Characteristics:...
- ThyasiridaeThyasiridaeThyasiridae is a family of bivalve molluscs, including the cleft clams.-Genera and species:* Adontorhina S. S. Berry, 1947** Adontorhina cyclia S. S. Berry, 1947** Adontorhina similis Barry & McCormack, 2007...
- UngulinidaeUngulinidaeUngulinidae is a family of marine bivalve molluscs.-Characteristics:The members of this family are found in muddy sand or gravel at or below low tide mark. They have characteristically rounded shells with forward-facing umbones . The valves are flattened and deeply etched with concentric rings....
- Cyrenoididae
- Superfamily Mactroidea
- MactridaeMactridaeMactridae, also known as trough shells or duck clams, is a family of marine bivalve clams of the order Veneroida.-Characteristics:...
- MesodesmatidaeMesodesmatidaeMesodesmatidae is a family of marine bivalve clams of the order Veneroida.-Genera:* Atactodea Dall, 1895* Donacilla* Mesodesma Deshayes, 1832* Monterosatus* Paphies Lesson, 1830-References:...
- Mactridae
- Superfamily Solenoidea
- PharidaePharidaePharidae is a family of clams related to the razor shells , a family which includes Pharidae by some authorities.-Genera:* Afrophaxas Cosel, 1993* Cultellus Schumacher, 1817* Ensiculus H...
- SolenidaeSolenidaeSolenidae is a family of saltwater clams known as razor shells, marine bivalve mollusks in the order Veneroida.-Taxonomy:Originally razor shells were all classified as Solenidae. Then the genera were grouped into two sub-families, the Cultellinae and Soleninae...
- Pharidae
- Superfamily Carditoidea
- CarditidaeCarditidaeCarditidae is a family of marine bivalve clams of the order Veneroida.-Genera:* Cardita Bruguière, 1792 * Carditamera Conrad, 1838 * Crassicardia Conrad, 1838 * Cyclocardia Conrad, 1867 * Glans Megerle von Muhlfeld, 1811...
- CondylocardiidaeCondylocardiidaeCondylocardiidae is a family of small marine bivalve clams of the order Veneroida.-Genera:* Benthocardiella Powell, 1930* Carditella E. A. Smith, 1881 * Carditopsis E. A. Smith, 1881* Condylocardia Bernard, 1896...
- Carditidae
- Superfamily Gastrochaenoidea
- GastrochaenidaeGastrochaenidaeGastrochaenidae is a family of bivalve molluscs in the order Myoida.-Genera:* Gastrochaena Spengler, 1783* Spengleria Tryon, 1861-References:...
- Gastrochaenidae
- Superfamily Cyamioidea
- CyamiidaeCyamiidaeCyamiidae is a family of marine bivalve clams of the order Veneroida.-Genera in the family Cyamiidae:* Cyamium Philippi, 1845* Gaimardia Gould, 1852* Kidderia Dall, 1876* Perrierina Bernard, 1897-References:...
- NeoleptonidaeNeoleptonidaeNeoleptonidae is a family of marine bivalve clams of the order Veneroida.-Genera in the family Neoleptonidae:* Arculus Monterosato, 1909* Bernardina Dall, 1910* Epilepton Dall, 1899* Halodakra Olsson, 1961* Neolepton Finley, 1926...
- SportellidaeSportellidaeSportellidae is a family of marine bivalve molluscs of the order Veneroida.Sportellidae shells are of moderate size, equivalve and with an external ligament set on small nymphs...
- Cyamiidae
- Superfamily Chamoidea
- ChamidaeChamidaeChamidae is a family of marine bivalve clams of the order Veneroida.-Genera and species:*Arcinella Schumacher, 1817**Arcinella arcinella — spiny jewelbox...
- Chamidae
- Superfamily Crassatelloidea