Mediterranean thorny oyster [Spondylus gaederopus]
Description
The Mediterranean thorny oyster is found in the Mediterranean Sea and the Eastern Atlantic from the British Isles to Senegal. It lives on rocky substrates, often in association with gorgonians, from the low tide mark down to 80 meters. The shell is robust and covered in large spines, with a color that varies from reddish to white, with the inside of the shell being glossy and often brightly colored.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Mollusks
Mollusca
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Clams, Oysters, and Scallops
Bivalvia
|
| Order |
Pearl Oysters and Relatives
Pteriida
|
| Family |
Thorny Oysters
Spondylidae
|
| Genus |
Thorny Oysters
Spondylus
|