Tellin Clam Shells of the Tellinidae Family

Five Tellin Clam Shells of the Tellinidae Family can be found in this website:

Phylogeny: Tellin Shells of the Tellinidae Family are bivalve mollusks that are members of the order Cardiida. Shells in this order are limited to marine environments. The Cardiida order consists of two superfamilies – Cardioidea and Tellinoidea. The Tellinidae Family is one of ten families in the Tellinoidea superfamily. The Tellinidae Family is a large family, with nine subfamilies, one hundred two genera, and around five hundred thirty-five species. Shells in this family are also commonly called Tellens or Tellinids.

Description: Tellin Shells vary in profile and can be ovate, trigonal, or quadrate in outline. The anterior end of the shells are rounded, and the posterior ends elongated or pointed. The shells are fairly flat, often with a curve or warp, when viewed from the side. Tellin Shells may be inequivalve or equivalve (both valves equal in size and shape). They have an external ligament and two cardinal teeth in each valve. Some species have lateral teeth also. Sculpturing on the shell can vary, but is usually fine and commarginal. Many species have a radial furrow toward their posterior end. Shells in this family are often vibrantly colored. Their shells are covered with a thin periostracum and the shells often have a polished appearance. The interior is porcelaneous. Tellin Shells are small to large in size, with the largest species reaching 12.5 cm (4.8 inches) in length.

Habitat and Distribution: Tellin Shells are found on sand, small gravel, shell hash, and mud substrates, sometimes forming dense communities. They have long siphons and can bury deeply in soft substrates. These shells often lay horizontal with their right side down. Tellin Shells live in the intertidal zone and to depths of, at least, 1,550 m (5,084 feet). They are found worldwide in polar to tropical seas. Forty-six species from the Tellinidae Family are found in Mexican waters.

Natural History: Tellin Shells may be suspension feeders that filter plankton and suspended organic matter from the surrounding water, or depositional feeders that use their siphons to feed primarily on detritus that has settled on the surface of the substrate. In turn they are preyed upon by crabs, fish, predatory mollusks and shorebirds. Tellin Shells are gonochoric and reproduce sexually through broadcast spawning with external fertilization. Tellin Shells are edible and are the target of artisanal fisheries in some areas. They are sought by shell collectors for their graceful and colorful shells.