Spondylus varius
Appearance
Spondylus varius | |
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A live individual of Spondylus varius, in situ off Mayotte | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Bivalvia |
Order: | Pectinida |
Family: | Spondylidae |
Genus: | Spondylus |
Species: | S. varius
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Binomial name | |
Spondylus varius G.B. Sowerby I, 1827
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Synonyms | |
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Spondylus varius, is a species of large marine bivalve mollusc in the family Spondylidae, the spiny oysters.
Description
[edit]Spondylus varius is the largest of the spiny oysters, reaching a maximum size of about 20 cm. Aside from the size, the shell is easily recognisable because its adult part is white, but a colourful (usually crimson, but it can be yellow) prodissoconch is clearly visible at the apical end.
Ecology
[edit]It lives at a depths of 30 m, and like most bivalves, is a filter-feeder, using plankton as a food source.
Distribution
[edit]This species can be found in the Indo-Pacific Ocean and off Australia, China, the Philippines, Japan, and Taiwan.
References
[edit]External links
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