Nuculanida Explained

Nuculanida is an order of very small saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs in the subclass Protobranchia.

Description

These bivalves are distinguished by the presence of relatively primitive, "protobranchiate" gills. There are a row of short teeth along the hinge of the shell. The shells are often internally nacreous.^[1]

Families

Families within the order Nuculanida include:

• Bathyspinulidae Coan & Scott, 1997
• Lametilidae
• Malletiidae H. and A. Adams, 1858
• Neilonellidae Schileyko, 1989
• Nuculanidae H. Adams & A. Adams, 1858
• Sareptidae Stoliczka, 1871
• Siliculidae Allen and Sanders, 1973
• Tindariidae Verrill and Bush, 1897
• Yoldiidae Habe, 1977
• Praenuculidae Mcalester, 1969 (?)
• Pristiglomidae Sanders and Allen, 1973 (?)

Notes and References

1. Book: Barnes, Robert D. . 1982 . Invertebrate Zoology . Holt-Saunders International . Philadelphia, PA. 430. 0-03-056747-5.