Abra (genus)

Abra

Two complete shells of Abra alba, one closed and one open
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Bivalvia
Subclass:	Heterodonta
Order:	Veneroida
Superfamily:	Tellinoidea
Family:	Semelidae
Genus:	Abra Leach in Lamarck, 1818
Species
See text

Abra is a genus of saltwater clams, marine bivalve mollusks in the family Semelidae. Members of this genus are mostly under 1.5 centimeters long, and have thin shells which are usually white. These bivalves normally live under the surface of sandy and muddy sediments, in the neritic zone.^[1]

They are considered an important food source for flat fish. ^[2]

Species

Species within the genus Abra include:

Abra aequalis (Say, 1822)
Abra alba (Wood W., 1802)
Abra californica Kundsen, 1970
Abra lioica (Dall, 1881)
Abra longicallis Sacchi, 1836
Abra nitida (O. F. Mueller, 1776)
Abra pacifica Dall, 1915
Abra prismatica
Abra profundorum E. A. Smith, 1885
Abra segmentum (Récluz, 1843)
Abra tenuis (Montagu, 1818)
Abra tepocana Dall, 1915

References

↑ Barrett, J. & C. M. Yonge (1958) Collins Pocket Guide to the Sea Shore. Collins, London
↑ Rees, H.L. and Dare. P.J (1993)Sources of mortality and associated life-cycle traits of selected benthic species: a review. Fisheries Research Data Report No. 33, Directorate of Fisheries Research, Lowestoft.

"Abra". National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).

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