Solemyidae
Encyclopedia
Solemyidae is a family
of protobranch bivalves in the order
Solemyoida
. .
Solemyids are remarkable in that their digestive tract is either extremely small or non-existent, and their feeding appendages are too short to reach outside the shell .
It has been shown that these clams host sulphur-oxidizing Bacteria
intracellularly within their gill
filaments. As chemoautotrophs, these bacterial symbionts synthesize organic matter from CO2 and are the primary source of nutrition for the whole organism . In turn, the animal host provides its symbionts a habitat in which they have access to the substrates of chemoautotrophy (O2, CO2, and reduced inorganic compounds such as H2S). Together, these partners create "animals" with novel metabolic capabilities.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of protobranch bivalves in the order
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...
Solemyoida
Solemyoida
Solemyoida is an order of bivalve molluscs.-Families in the order Solemyoida:* Manzanellidae Chronic, 1952 * Solemyidae J. E. Gray, 1840-References:...
. .
Solemyids are remarkable in that their digestive tract is either extremely small or non-existent, and their feeding appendages are too short to reach outside the shell .
It has been shown that these clams host sulphur-oxidizing Bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
intracellularly within their 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...
filaments. As chemoautotrophs, these bacterial symbionts synthesize organic matter from CO2 and are the primary source of nutrition for the whole organism . In turn, the animal host provides its symbionts a habitat in which they have access to the substrates of chemoautotrophy (O2, CO2, and reduced inorganic compounds such as H2S). Together, these partners create "animals" with novel metabolic capabilities.
Genera and species in the family Solemyidae
- Acharax DallW. H. DallWilliam Healey Dall was an American naturalist, a prominent malacologist, and one of the earliest scientific explorers of interior Alaska...
, 1908- Acharax alinae
- Acharax johnstoni
- Solemya Lamarck, 1818
- Solemya borealisSolemya borealisSolemya borealis, or the Boreal awning clam, is a species of marine bivalve mollusc in the family Solemyidae. It can be found along the northeastern coast of North America, ranging from Nova Scotia to Connecticut....
Totten, 1834 - Solemya caribbaea H.E. Vokes, 1970
- Solemya grandis A.E. Verrill & Bush, 1898
- Solemya occidentalisSolemya occidentalisSolemya occidentalis, or the West Indian awning clam, is a species of marine bivalve mollusc in the family Solemyidae. It can be found ranging from Florida to the West Indies....
Deshayes, 1857 - Solemya parkinsoniSolemya parkinsoniSolemya parkinsoni, is a species of marine bivalve mollusc in the family Solemyidae.-References:* Powell A W B, New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1-External links:*...
E.A. Smith, 1874 - Solemya patagonica E.A. Smith, 1885
- Solemya reidi (syn. Solemya macrodactyla) Rochebrune & Mabille, 1891
- Solyema togata Poli 1795
- Solemya velumSolemya velumSolemya velum, or the Atlantic awning clam, is a species of marine bivalve mollusc in the family Solemyidae. It can be found along the eastern coast of North America, ranging from Nova Scotia to Florida....
SayThomas SayThomas Say was an American naturalist, entomologist, malacologist, herpetologist and carcinologist. A taxonomist, he is often considered to be the father of descriptive entomology in the United States. He described more than 1,000 new species of beetles and over 400 species of insects of other...
, 1822
- Solemya borealis