Verticordiidae

Verticordiidae
Verticordia ouricuri
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Superorder: Anomalodesmata
Superfamily: Verticordioidea
Family: Verticordiidae
Stoliczka, 1871

Verticordiidae is a family of benthic marine bivalves in the superorder Anomalodesmata. These clams range from 2 - 200 millimeters in length[1] and are mainly found in coastal waters surrounding Australia and the Americas,[2] though a few species within this family such as Haliris mediopacifica are found in the middle of the ocean. Verticordiidae is known for being a family of septibranchs, or predatory bivalves, rather than filter feeders.[3] Clams dig vertical burrows in substrate and use papillae around the edges of their inhalant siphons to detect microscopic prey. Some clams in this family, specifically in the genus Trigonulina, have distinct extended circular formations on their shells.[3]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Verticordiidae Stoliczka, 1870 - Ocean Biodiversity Information System". obis.org. Retrieved 2023-01-18.
  3. ^ a b Morton, Brian; Machado, Fabrizio Marcondes; Passos, Flávio Dias (2019-12-01). "The anatomy of the miniature predator Trigonulina ornata d'Orbigny, 1853 (Bivalvia: Anomalodesmata: Verticordiidae) from continental shelf waters off Brazil". Marine Biodiversity. 49 (6): 2901–2916. Bibcode:2019MarBd..49.2901M. doi:10.1007/s12526-019-01017-y. ISSN 1867-1624. S2CID 208020640.