Evolution on the Half Shell...

The Assembling the Tree of Life: Bivalvia project (BivAToL) is a part of the Assembling the Tree of Life initiative, a large research effort sponsored by the National Science Foundation. Its goal is to reconstruct the evolutionary origins of all living things.

Jetsam & Flotsam

Back to Florida...

In November 2009, the three BivAToL PIs (Paula Mikkelsen, RĂ¼diger Bieler, Gonzalo Giribet) plus the three new postdocs (Sid Staubach, Ilya Temkin, Stephanie Clark) spent a week in Florida to collect additional bivalve target species.

Following Ft. Pierce, the three PIs spent an additional few days in the subtropical Lower Florida Keys to scuba dive on the reef and sample the shallow waters of Florida Bay. More...

 

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Bivalve of the Day

current species
Laevicardium  serratum photo

Egg Cockle

Laevicardium serratum (Linnaeus, 1758)

Family Cardiidae (Heart Cockles and Giant Clams)

The egg cockle’s powerful foot allows it to bury rapidly in the sand or move by short leaps or swim for short distances to evade predators, such as starfish and seabirds. Heart cockles are fished in many parts of the world for human consumption, and are often of substantial economic importance. The common name “heart cockle” refers to the shell outline in anterior view (a lateral view is shown here). A recent scientific study has shown that Giant Clams also belong to this family, though their “upside-down” anatomy, symbiotic algae, and sessile habits make them unusual and unique members.

From “Seashells of Southern Florida: Bivalves,” Princeton University Press