| Lucina pensylvanica | |
|---|---|
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| Lucina pensylvanica shell | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Bivalvia |
| Subclass: | Heterodonta |
| Order: | Lucinida |
| Superfamily: | Lucinoidea |
| Family: | Lucinidae |
| Genus: | Lucina |
| Species: | L. pensylvanica |
| Binomial name | |
| Lucina pensylvanica | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
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Lucina pensylvanica, commonly known as the Pennsylvania lucine, [2] is a species of bivalve mollusc in the family Lucinidae.
This mollusc was first described in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus, who gave it the name Venus pensylvanica. He spelt the specific name incorrectly, with only a single "n" in the first syllable, but by the law of priority laid down in the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, the original spelling is retained even if it contained an error. The mollusc has since been reassigned to the genus Lucina , becoming Lucina pensylvanica. [2]
Lucina pensylvanica is nearly circular in shape and grows to a maximum size of about 50 mm (2 in). There is a marked groove on the posterior side of the valves and the concentric sculpturing is somewhat irregular. The valves are largely white, but remnants of the brownish periostracum may remain in the form of calcified scales. [3] These scales contain calcareous granules and have a thin layer of prismatic aragonite on their ventral surfaces, which gives an unusual flexibility to the margin of the valve. [4]
Found along the Atlantic coast of North America, ranging from North Carolina to the West Indies. [5]
Like other members of the Lucinidae, Lucina pensylvanica possesses chemosymbiotic, sulphur-oxidizing bacteria housed in bacteriocytes in their gills. [6] During periods of starvation in the laboratory, researchers found that Lucina pensylvanica preserved the bacterial symbionts for three months or more, continuing to obtain nutrients from the bacteria which continued their sulphur-oxidizing activities, relying on sulphur stored by the host in granules. This was in contrast to the dwarf tiger lucine Ctena orbiculata which did not retain its symbiotic bacteria during a period of starvation, consuming the bacteria instead. [7]
Lima is a genus of file shells or file clams, marine bivalve molluscs in the family Limidae, the file shells, within the subclass Pteriomorphia.
The Plicatulidae are a family of saltwater clams, marine bivalve mollusks, known commonly as kitten's paws or kittenpaws. These bivalves are related to oysters and scallops. The family has a single living genus, Plicatula, with a second, Harpax known from fossils.
Lucinidae is a family of saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs.
Solemya velum, the Atlantic awning clam, is a species of marine bivalve mollusc in the family Solemyidae, the awning clams. This species is found along the eastern coast of North America, from Nova Scotia to Florida.
Euvola is a genus of marine bivalve mollusks in the family Pectinidae, the scallops. In shells of this genus, one valve is flat, and the other is deeply cupped.
Lucina amiantus, or the decorated lucine, is a species of bivalve mollusc in the family Lucinidae. It can be found along the Atlantic coast of North America, ranging from North Carolina to the West Indies and Brazil.
Lucina leucocyma, or the saw-toothed pen shell, is a species of bivalve mollusc in the family Lucinidae. It can be found along the Atlantic coast of North America, ranging from North Carolina to the West Indies.
Anodontia alba, or the buttercup lucine, is a species of bivalve mollusc in the family Lucinidae. It can be found along the Atlantic coast of North America, its range extending from North Carolina in the United States to the West Indies.
Anodontia philippiana, or the chalky buttercup, is a species of bivalve mollusc in the family Lucinidae. It can be found burrowing in soft substrate in shallow waters along the Atlantic coast of North America, its range extending from North Carolina in the United States to the West Indies and Bermuda.
Clathrolucina costata, or the costate lucine, is a species of bivalve mollusc in the family Lucinidae. It can be found along the Atlantic coast of North America, ranging from North Carolina to the West Indies.
Codakia orbicularis, or the tiger lucine, is a species of bivalve mollusc in the family Lucinidae. It can be found along the Atlantic coast of North America, ranging from Florida to the West Indies.
Ctena orbiculata, commonly known as the dwarf tiger lucine, is a species of bivalve mollusc in the family Lucinidae. It can be found along the Atlantic coast of North America, ranging from North Carolina to the West Indies.
Divaricella dentata, or the dentate lucine, is a species of bivalve mollusc in the family Lucinidae. It can be found along the coast of the West Indies.
Divaricella quadrisulcata, or the cross-hatched lucine, is a species of bivalve mollusc in the family Lucinidae. It can be found along the Atlantic coast of North America, ranging from Massachusetts to the West Indies.
Americardia is a genus of saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs in the family Cardiidae, the cockles.
Laevicardium, common name "egg cockles", is a genus of saltwater clams or cockles, marine bivalve molluscs in the family Cardiidae, the cockles. They are unusual among the cockles in that they have smooth, rounded, "egg-like" valves.
Pitar dione, or the elegant Venus clam, formerly known as Venus dione, is a species of bivalve mollusc in the family Veneridae, the Venus clams. The shell is whitish pink, with a row of long curved spines on each valve.
Arcinella is a genus of bivalve mollusc in the family Chamidae.
Lucina is a genus of saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs.
Codakia distinguenda, the elegant lucine, is a species of marine bivalve mollusc. It was first described to science in 1872 by George Washington Tryon Jr.