''Phaxas'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of small razor shells in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Pharidae Pharidae is a Taxonomy (biology), taxonomic family (biology), family of saltwater clams, marine (ocean), marine bivalve molluscs in the order Adapedonta. This family of clams is related to the Solenidae, razor shells, a family which is considered ...

. Members of the genus have a pair of elongate valves and live in soft sediments on the sea bed. They have a muscular foot with which they can dig rapidly and a short siphon which they extend to the surface of the substrate. They are

suspension feeder Filter feeders are aquatic animals that acquire nutrients by feeding on organic matters, food particles or smaller organisms (bacteria, microalgae and zooplanktons) suspended in water, typically by having the water pass over or through a spec ...

Species

The following species are recognised:World Register of Marine Species
/ref> * '' Phaxas pellucidus'' (Pennant, 1777) * '' Phaxas tenellus'' Cosel, 1993 Species brought into synonymy: * ''Phaxas adriaticus'' (Coen, 1933): synonym of ''Phaxas pellucidus'' (Pennant, 1777) * ''Phaxas cultellus'' (Linnaeus, 1758): synonym of '' Ensiculus cultellus'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Phaxas decipiens'' (E. A. Smith, 1904) accepted as '' Afrophaxas decipiens'' (E. A. Smith, 1904)

References

* Coen G. (1933). Molluschi nuovi di Rovigno. Note dell'Istituto Italo-Germanico di Biologia marina di Rovigno d'Istria, 6: 1-8, 1 pl. * Vaught, K.C.; Tucker Abbott, R.; Boss, K.J. (1989). A classification of the living Mollusca. American Malacologists: Melbourne. ISBN 0-915826-22-4. XII, 195 pp.

External links

Gray, J. E. (1852). Molluscorum Britanniae Synopsis: a synopsis of the Mollusca of Great Britain. John van Vorst, London, xvi, 376 pp
{{Taxonbar, from=Q7181115 Bivalve genera Pharidae