Mimachlamys Explained

Mimachlamys is a genus of scallops, marine bivalve molluscs in the taxonomic family Pectinidae. There are at least 11 living species, including the glory scallop Mimachlamys gloriosa, and the Mimachlamys asperrima.

Shell description

In this genus, the valves are both convex, though the left valve is more convex than the right. The auricles, ear-like projections on either side of the hinge, are inequal in size, with the anterior always being much larger than the posterior. The byssal notch is deep, and the valves are generally similar in sculpture.

Distribution and habitat

The habitat for this genus is temperate oceans down to a depth of several hundred meters, from southern Australia to Indonesia and north to the Philippines. Some species in the genus Mimachlamys retain their byssal threads through adulthood, and are not free swimming.^[1]

Species

Species of Mimachlamys include:

• Mimachlamys albolineata
• Mimachlamys asperrima
• Mimachlamys australis
• Mimachlamys cloacata
• Mimachlamys crassicostata
• Mimachlamys gloriosa
• Mimachlamys nobilis
• Mimachlamys sanguinea
• Mimachlamys senatoria
• Mimachlamys townsendi
• Mimachlamys varia

References

• Lazo, D. (2007). Early Cretaceous bivalves of the Neuquén Basin, west-central Argentina: notes on taxonomy, palaeobiogeography and palaeoecology. Geological Journal, 42(2), pp. 127–142.

Notes and References

1. Iredale . T. . Mollusca from the Continental Shelf of eastern Australia No. 2 . Records of the Australian Museum . 17 . 4 . 163 . Australian Museum, Sydney . 1929 . 0067-1975 . 10.3853/j.0067-1975.17.1929.759 . free .