| Pholadidae Temporal range: | |
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| One valve of a shell of Cyrtopleura costata | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Bivalvia |
| Order: | Myida |
| Superfamily: | Pholadoidea |
| Family: | Pholadidae Lamarck, 1809 |
| Genera | |
See text | |
Pholadidae, known as piddocks or angelwings, are a family of bivalve molluscs similar to a clam.
Piddocks are unique in that each side of their shells is divided into 2 or 3 separate sections. Furthermore, one of the piddock's shells has a set of ridges or "teeth", which they use to grind away at clay or soft rock and create tubular burrows. The shape of these burrows is due to the rotating motion of the piddock as it grinds the rock to make its home. The piddock stays in the burrow it digs for the entirety of its eight-year lifespan, with only its siphon exposed to take in water that it filters for food. When the piddock dies and leaves an empty tubular burrow, other marine life such as sea anemone, crabs and other molluscs may use the burrow.
Some species of Pholadidae may reach up to 18 cm (7″). Their coloration is typically white, though through consumption of red tide algae some may develop a pink coloration.
Venus is a genus of small to large saltwater clams in the family Veneridae, which is sometimes known as the Venus clams and their relatives. These are marine bivalve molluscs.
Mya is a genus of saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs in the family Myidae. They are widespread and abundant in northern waters. Commonly known as Ipswich clams, soft-shell clam or steamers, they are routinely used as a food source for humans.
Lambis is a genus of large sea snails sometimes known as spider conchs, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Strombidae, the true conch family.
The Donacidae, the "bean clams" or "wedge shells", are a family of bivalve molluscs of the superfamily Tellinoidea. The family is related to the Tellina.
Mya truncata, common name the blunt gaper or truncate softshell, is a species of edible saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusk in the family Myidae.
In 1758, in the 10th edition of Systema Naturae, the Swedish scientist and taxonomist Carl Linnaeus described the class "Vermes" as:
Animals of slow motion, soft substance, able to increase their bulk and restore parts which have been destroyed, extremely tenacious of life, and the inhabitants of moist places. Many of them are without a distinct head, and most of them without feet. They are principally distinguished by their tentacles. By the Ancients they were not improperly called imperfect animals, as being destitute of ears, nose, head, eyes and legs; and are therefore totally distinct from Insects.
Arca is a genus of edible saltwater clams in the family Arcidae, the Ark Clams.
Pholas dactylus, or common piddock, is a bioluminescent clam-like species of marine mollusc in the family Pholadidae.
Lutraria is a genus of medium-sized marine bivalve mollusks or clams, commonly known as otter shells.
Cyrtopleura costata, or the angel wing clam, is a bivalve mollusc in the family Pholadidae. It is found in shallow parts of the northwest Atlantic and also in the North Sea of Scotland coastline and west coast of the Adriatic Sea by a remote area in the Marche region in central Italy, living in the seabed, where it digs its burrows on a very slow revolving movement for years through soft sand and mud always to a max depth of 8ft but always below 3 feet (0.91 m) at the lowest tide.
Pholas is a taxonomic genus of marine bivalve molluscs in the subfamily Pholadinae of the family Pholadidae.
Pholadidea is a taxonomic genus of marine bivalve molluscs in the subfamily Martesiinae of the family Pholadidae. Most members of Pholididea bore into shale, soft rock and coral for shelter, with the exception of Pholididea (Hatasia) wiffenae, which is a wood-borer.
Lunulicardia is a genus of saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs in the family Cardiidae, the cockles. Fossils species in this genus are present in the Pliocene deposits of Indonesia and the Miocene deposits of Russia.
Pholad borings are tubular burrows in firm clay and soft rock that have been created by bivalve molluscs in the family Pholadidae. The common names of clams in this family are "pholads", "piddocks", and "angel wings"; the latter because their shells are white, elongated and tend to be shaped like a wing and have sculpture somewhat reminiscent of a wing.
Callista is a genus of saltwater clams, marine, bivalve molluscs in the family Veneridae, the venus clams.
Barnea is a genus of bivalves belonging to the family Pholadidae.
Cyrtopleura is a genus of bivalves belonging to the family Pholadidae.
Martesia is a genus of bivalves belonging to the family Pholadidae.
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