Dosinia exoleta

Dosinia exoleta, common name the rayed artemis, is a saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Veneridae, the venus clams.

Dosinia exoleta
A shell of Dosinia exoleta from Campania, Italy, on display at the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Bivalvia
Order:	Venerida
Superfamily:	Veneroidea
Family:	Veneridae
Genus:	Dosinia
Species:	D. exoleta
Binomial name
Dosinia exoleta (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
Arctoe fulva Risso, 1826 Artemis radiata Reeve, 1850 Arthemis complanata Locard, 1892 Arthemis pudica Poli, 1795 Exoleta radula T. Brown, 1827 Pectunculus capillaceus da Costa, 1778 Venus exoleta Linnaeus, 1758

Description

The shell of an adult Dosinia exoleta can be as large as 60 millimetres (2.4 in). These shells can be white, yellowish or pale brown, with darker blotches. They are circular in shape, with a concentric sculpture of fine ribs. They have a very good flavour.

• 
  Dosinia exoleta var. interrupta, right valve
• 
  Dosinia exoleta var. interrupta, left valve

• 
  Dosinia exoleta var. ponderosa, right valve
• 
  Dosinia exoleta var. ponderosa, left valve

Distribution and habitat

This species is present in the Boreal-Atlantic zone and Mediterranean Sea. It lives on the lower shore and muddy flats to depths of about 100 metres (330 ft).

References

• Repetto G., Orlando F. & Arduino G. (2005): Conchiglie del Mediterraneo, Amici del Museo "Federico Eusebio", Alba, Italy

External links

• WoRMS
• Marine Life Informations
• Biolib
• Habitas