''Modiolus philippinarum'', common name Philippine horse mussel, 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 "horse

mussel Mussel () is the common name used for members of several families of bivalve molluscs, from saltwater and freshwater habitats. These groups have in common a shell whose outline is elongated and asymmetrical compared with other edible clams, whic ...

", 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 ...

Mytilidae Mytilidae are a family of small to large marine and brackish-water bivalve molluscs in the order Mytilida. One of the genera, '' Limnoperna'', even inhabits freshwater environments. The order has only this one family which contains some 52 ge ...

, the mussels.

Description

Shells of ''Modiolus philippinarum'' can reach a length of , with a maximum of about . These shells are thin but solid, swollen, elongate-ovate and roughly trapeziform. The anterior margin is short, while posterodorsal margin is long and oblique in relation to the ventral margin. Hind margin is convex and hinge-line is approximately one half the total length. Outer surface of the shell shows many concentric growth striae. The basic color of the external surface is yellowish brown, while the interior varies from pearly white to purplish red.Contribution to the knowledge to S.A. marine mollusca
/ref>Odhner, N.H.J. (1919)
Contribution a la faune malacologique de Madagascar.
Arkiv för Zoologi, K. Svenska Vetenskapsakademien, 12(6): 1-52, 4 pl.

Right and left valve of the same specimen: File:Modiolus philippinarum 01.jpg, Right valve File:Modiolus philippinarum 02.jpg, Left valve

Distribution and habitat

This species is present in the Red Sea, Madagascar and Indo-Pacific, from eastern Africa, to eastern Indonesia; north to Japan and south to Queensland and Western Australia. It inhabits sublittoral muds, at depth of 0-40m.
/ref>

References

philippinarum Bivalves described in 1843 Taxa named by Sylvanus Charles Thorp Hanley {{Mytilidae-stub