Monopleura Explained

Monopleura is a genus[1] of saltwater clams, marine bivalve mollusks in the family Monopleuridae. These fossils have been dated back to the Cretaceous Period (145.5 million to 66 million years ago).

These bivalves are known as pachyodonts.

Description

The thick triangular shell in this genus is capped by a smaller dome-shaped shell. Some of the pachyodonts possessed open passageways through the shell that allowed for fluids to pass. These pachyodont bivalves were habitually sedentary and grew upright with the pointed end anchored in the substrate.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Monopleura figolina. Zipcode Zoo. 16 November 2010.
  2. Web site: Monopleura. Britannica. 16 November 2010.