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Myochama

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Myochama
Temporal range: Late/Upper Pliocene–present, 3.6–0 Ma[1]
(1) Myochama anomioides, (2) Myochama strangei, (3–4) Myochama transversa (5) Humphreyia strangei
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Family: Myochamidae
Genus: Myochama
Stutchbury, 1830

Myochama is a genus of bivalves in the family Myochamidae.[1][2][3] They are restricted to the waters off southeastern Australia and New Zealand.[4]

Description

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Myochama exhibit cementation where one valve is fixed to some hard substrate – similarly as oysters. In Myochama, it is the right valve that gets cemented, typically to the posterior region of shells of large infaunal bivalves. In Myochama anomioides, this happens when the shell is few millimeters in height (range 1.2–3.9 mm (0.05–0.15 in)). The cemented right valve is thin and flat or slightly convex, whereas the left valve is robust and strongly concave.[4]

Typical substrata for attachment include shells of Neotrigonia, Venericardia, and Glycymeris. Individuals that attach themselves to living objects tend to do so at smaller sizes than those attaching to inanimate objects (e.g., dead shells, rocks).[4]

Myochama probably have direct development (i.e., there are no free-living larvae).[4]

Species

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There are four extant species:[2]

There are also three species only known from the fossil record:[2]

  • Myochama plana Tate, 1894
  • Myochama rugata Tate, 1894
  • Myochama trapezia Pritchard, 1895

References

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  1. ^ a b "Myochama Stutchbury 1830". Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Bieler R, Bouchet P, Gofas S, Marshall B, Rosenberg G, La Perna R, Neubauer TA, Sartori AF, Schneider S, Vos C, ter Poorten JJ, Taylor J, Dijkstra H, Finn J, Bank R, Neubert E, Moretzsohn F, Faber M, Houart R, Picton B, Garcia-Alvarez O, eds. (2024). "Myochama Stutchbury, 1830". MolluscaBase. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Myochama Stutchbury, 1830". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d Harper, Elizabeth M. & Morton, Brian (2000). "The biology and functional morphology of Myochama anomioides Stutchbury, 1830 (Bivalvia: Anomalodesmata: Pandoroidea), with reference ot cementation". Journal of Molluscan Studies. 66 (3): 403–416. doi:10.1093/mollus/66.3.403.