File Clams [Limidae]

Description

Limidae, commonly known as file clams, flame scallops, or electric scallops, is the only extant family within the order Limida. Members of this family are characterized by their bright, mantle edges that can appear to flicker or 'flash' with light, a phenomenon especially noted in the species from the genus Ctenoides, such as the electric flame scallop (Ctenoides ales). These bivalves have a unique way of locomotion, using their highly adapted, large, and muscular mantle to swim backwards by rapidly clapping their shells together, propelling them through the water. The shell structure is typically fan-shaped or rounded, often adorned with radiating ribs or scales, which provides them with a rough, file-like texture, hence the common name 'file clams'. They inhabit a range of marine environments, from shallow reefs to deep sea floors, where they are often found attached to substrates or nestled within coral crevices. Their diet primarily consists of plankton, which they filter from the water using their gills.