''Chama gryphoides'' is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of ...
of cemented saltwater clam, a
marine
Marine is an adjective meaning of or pertaining to the sea or ocean.
Marine or marines may refer to:
Ocean
* Maritime (disambiguation)
* Marine art
* Marine biology
* Marine debris
* Marine habitats
* Marine life
* Marine pollution
Military
* ...
bivalve
Bivalvia (), in previous centuries referred to as the Lamellibranchiata and Pelecypoda, is a class of marine and freshwater molluscs that have laterally compressed bodies enclosed by a shell consisting of two hinged parts. As a group, biv ...
mollusc in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
Chamidae
Chamidae, common name the jewel boxes or jewel box clams, is a taxonomic family of saltwater clams, a group of marine bivalve mollusks in the order Venerida.Abbott, R.T. & Morris, P.A. ''A Field Guide to Shells: Atlantic and Gulf Coasts and the ...
, the jewel boxes.
[WoRMS]
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This species is known in the fossil record from the Miocene
The Miocene ( ) is the first geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and means "less recent" ...
to the Quaternary (age range 20.43 to 0.781 million years ago.). Fossil shells of this species have been found in Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Algeria, Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Moldova, Morocco, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.
Description
Shells of ''Chama gryphoides'' can reach a size of . These shells are thick, heavy, almost oval and inequivalve. The left valve is large and deep, while the right one is flatter. The radial ribs are quite irregular and arranged in concentric rows.
Distribution
This species has a Mediterranean distribution. It can be found at depths of 10 to 200 m.[GBIF]
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References
External links
Conchology
Chamidae
Molluscs of the Atlantic Ocean
Molluscs of the Mediterranean Sea
Bivalves described in 1758
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus
{{bivalve-stub