Paratapes textile (Gmelin, 1791)
Paratapes textile, commonly known as the textile venus clam or textile venus, is a marine bivalve mollusk species found in saltwater belonging to the of family Veneridae .
Current Status of Name :
This name is currently accepted taxonomically.
Rank : Species
Environment : Marine
Taxonomy Classification
- Kingdom : Animalia
- Phylum : Mollusca
- Class : Bivalvia
- Order : Venerida
- Family : Veneridae
- Genus : Paratapes
- Species : Paratapes textile
Paratapes textile
Description :
Shell Morphology:
- Size: Shell length typically 3-6 cm, but can reach up to 8 cm.
- Shape: Oval to subtriangular in outline, with a moderately inflated and solid shell.
- Valves: Thick and heavy, with distinct concentric growth lines or ridges.
- Exterior: Surface of the shell is usually smooth or finely ribbed, with a rough periostracum (outermost layer) that is often eroded in older individuals.
- Color: Exterior color ranges from pale brown to grayish-brown or yellowish-brown, with darker concentric bands or rays.
- Interior: Smooth, glossy, and white or cream-colored.
- Hinge: Hinge line with three cardinal teeth in each valve, and well-developed lateral teeth.
- Ligament: External ligament on a nymphal ridge behind the umbones (beaks).
Anatomy:
- Body: Oval-shaped, with a large muscular foot.
- Mantle: Fused along the edges, forming short siphons for inhalant and exhalant water currents.
- Gills: Large and well-developed for filter feeding.
- Foot: Large and muscular, used for burrowing and locomotion.
- Adductor muscles: Two strong adductor muscles attach the body to the valves.
Habitat and Distribution:
- Found along the coasts of New Zealand and some neighboring islands.
- Inhabits sandy or muddy intertidal and shallow subtidal zones, often forming dense beds or beds.
- Typically found partially buried in the sediment, with the siphons exposed.
Ecology and Behavior:
- Filter feeder, using its gills to strain plankton, detritus, and other suspended particles from the water.
- Buries itself in the sediment with its muscular foot, extending its siphons to the surface for filter feeding.
- Serves as a food source for various predators, including fish, crabs, and wading birds.
Reproduction and Life Cycle:
- Sexually dimorphic, with separate male and female individuals.
- Broadcast spawners, releasing gametes into the water column for external fertilization.
- Larvae (veligers) undergo planktonic stages before settling to the seafloor.
- Growth is relatively slow, with individuals living up to several decades.
Commercial Importance:
- Commercially harvested and consumed as a food source in New Zealand and other parts of its range.
- Considered a delicacy and used in various dishes, including soups, stews, and fritters.
- Also used as bait for fishing in some regions.
Conservation Status:
- The IUCN has not assessed the global conservation status of Paratapes textile.
- Some local populations may be threatened by overharvesting, habitat degradation, and pollution.
Note: This description covers the key aspects of the species, including taxonomy, shell morphology, anatomy, habitat, ecology, reproduction, commercial importance, and conservation status.