The Warty Venus, scientifically known as Venus verrucosa, is a species of saltwater clam belonging to the family Veneridae. It is a common and widely distributed bivalve mollusk found in various marine environments.
Description and Characteristics
The Warty Venus is a relatively large clam, reaching a maximum size of about 8 centimeters in length. Its shell is thick and solid, with a characteristic rough and warty surface. The shell color varies from white to yellowish-brown, often with reddish-brown patches. The valves (shell halves) are somewhat triangular in shape, with a prominent beak (umbo) at the anterior end.
Habitat and Occurrence
The Warty Venus is found in a variety of marine habitats, including sandy bottoms, muddy bottoms, and seagrass meadows. It prefers depths ranging from the intertidal zone to about 100 meters. The species is commonly found in the neritic zone, which extends from the shoreline to the edge of the continental shelf. The Warty Venus is widely distributed throughout the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea, and the eastern Atlantic Ocean.
Taxonomy
The species Venus verrucosa belongs to the Class: Bivalvia, Order: Venerida, and Family: Veneridae. This family comprises a large number of edible clams, which are often commercially harvested.
Feeding
The Warty Venus is a filter feeder, relying on phytoplankton and other microscopic organisms suspended in the water column for sustenance. The clam draws water into its mantle cavity through a siphon and filters out the food particles using its gills.
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