Atlantic Gem Clam [Gemma gemma]
Description
The Atlantic Gem Clam is a small marine bivalve mollusk. They are characterized by their small, white, and circular shell which is about 2-3mm in diameter. This species is typically found in the Atlantic Ocean, ranging from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico. They inhabit sandy and muddy bottoms of estuaries and coastal areas, where they live infaunally, buried in sediment. They are suspension feeders, eating plankton and other microscopic organisms from the water using their gills.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Mollusks
Mollusca
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Clams, Oysters, and Scallops
Bivalvia
|
| Order |
Clams
Veneroida
|
| Family |
Venus Clams
Veneridae
|
| Genus |
Gemma
Gemma
|