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Family Laternulidae - lantern clams
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Order |
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Class |
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Bivalvia |
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No. of Genera in Ref. |
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No. of Species in Ref. |
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Environment |
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Fresh : No |
Brackish : No |
Marine : Yes |
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Remark |
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Shell hin and brittle, inflated transversely elongate-ovate in outline and variably truncate to rostrate posteriorly, gaping at both ends; subequivalve, with left valve a little larger and more convex than opposite valve. Umbones low, submedian or somewhat behind midlength of valves, with an obvious median slit. Outer surface of shell smoothish or concentrically wrinkled, pearly white and finely granulated. Periostracum thin, somewhat thicked marginally. Internal ligament, attached on 2 protruding, spoon-like pits, each supported by an oblique radial ridge. A small, boomerang-shaped, calcareous ossicles sometimes present on anterior side of the ligament. Hinge without teeth. Interior of shell subnacreous. Two subequal adductor muscle scars. Pallial line somewhat flattened or feebly concave anteriorly and with a broad sinus posteriorly. Internal margins smooth and thin. Gills of eulamellibranchiate type, with folded branchial sheets; outer demibranch smaller, upturned and without the ascending lamella. Foot small and nonbyssate in the adult. Siphons on long and papillate, fused to the top. Mantle margins largely fused ventrally, with a small anterior opening. Sedentary detritus or suspension filter-feeders, living vertically buried in littoral and shallow sublittoral soft bottoms. Hermaphroditic animals, often brooding their eggs in the gills. More or less frequently collected in some western Pacific areas (Ref. 348). |
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Main Ref. |
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