| Venus clam Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Venus affinis | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Bivalvia |
| Order: | Venerida |
| Superfamily: | Veneroidea |
| Family: | Veneridae |
| Genus: | Venus Linnaeus, 1758 |
| Type species | |
| Venus verrucosa Linnaeus, 1758 | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
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.
The genus Venus is named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love and sexuality.
However, some bivalves are still called Venus clams because they used to be in the genus Venus, though they are now placed in other genera: these include the species within the genus Mercenaria , and Pitar dione , the Venus shell described in sexual terms by Linnaeus. [1] [2]
The genus is known from the Cretaceous to the recent periods (age range: from 136.4 Mya to now). Fossils shells have been found all over the world. About 20 extinct species are known. [3]
The family Veneridae contains over 400 known species, many of which are attractive and popular with shell-collectors.
The shells of venerids vary in shape, and include shells that are circular, triangular, and rectangular. Characteristically, Venus clams possess a porcelain-like inner shell layer, a complex tooth structure in the hinge, well-developed escutcheon and lunule, and a well-developed pallial sinus.
Veneridae colonize the sandy ocean bottom, and their populations are often dense and large. The Veneroida order typically has a folded gill structure which is well developed for filtering out small food particles.
The common names of clams in this genus often include the name Venus. A few species that still have "Venus" as part of their common name, but which are no longer in the genus Venus are:
The genus Venus contains these extant species: [4]
The Veneridae or venerids, common name: Venus clams, are a very large family of minute to large, saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs. Over 500 living species of venerid bivalves are known, most of which are edible, and many of which are exploited as food sources.
Mercenaria is a genus of edible saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs in the family Veneridae, the Venus clams.
Ostrea is a genus of edible oysters, marine bivalve mollusks in the family Ostreidae, the oysters.
Dosinia is a genus of saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs in the family Veneridae, subfamily Dosiniinae Deshayes, 1853. The shell of Dosinia species is disc-like in shape, usually white, and therefore is reminiscent of the shells of Lucinid bivalves.
Pinna is a genus of bivalve molluscs belonging to the family Pinnidae.
Leukoma is a genus of saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs in the family Veneridae, the Venus clams. This genus of bivalves has been exploited by humans since prehistory; for example, the Chumash peoples of California harvested this genus from Morro Bay in approximately 1000 AD.
Spisula is a genus of medium-sized to large marine bivalve mollusks or clams in the subfamily Mactrinae of the family Mactridae, commonly known as surf clams or trough shells.
Irus is a genus of saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs in the family Veneridae, the venus clams.
Petricola is a genus of saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs in the subfamily Petricolinae of the family Veneridae, the Venus clams.
Tivela is a genus of saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs in the subfamily Meretricinae of the family Veneridae, the Venus clams.
Pitar is a genus of saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs in the subfamily Callocardiinae of the family Veneridae, the Venus clams. The genus contains over 60 species.
Periglypta is a genus of bivalves in the subfamily Venerinae of the family Veneridae.
Lamelliconcha circinata, common name the "purple venus clam", is a species of bivalve mollusc in the family Veneridae, the venus clams. This species can be found around the coasts of the islands in the West Indies.
Hysteroconcha dione or the elegant Venus clam, formerly known as Venus dione, is a species of bivalve mollusc in the family Veneridae, the Venus clams.
Venerupis is a genus of marine bivalve molluscs in the family Veneridae commonly known as carpet shells. The valves are robust and rhomboidal with the umbones turned-in and nearer the anterior end. The posterior end is wedge-shaped and the internal margins of the valves are smooth. There are 3 or 4 cardinal teeth on each valve. The foot is large and the siphons are of medium length and united except at the very tip.
Hysteroconcha lupanaria is a species of marine bivalve mollusc in the family Veneridae, the Venus clams.
Solen is a genus of marine bivalves in the family Solenidae.
Callista is a genus of saltwater clams, marine, bivalve molluscs in the family Veneridae, the venus clams.
Hysteroconcha is a genus of saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs in the subfamily Callocardiinae of the family Veneridae, the Venus clams.
