ark shell

ark shell
any marine bivalve of the family Arcidae, esp. of the genus Arca, characterized by a heavy shell with a toothed hinge and a deep, boatlike inner surface.
[1850-55]

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      any of the species of predominantly marine bivalve mollusks of the family Arcidae. Such clams are characterized by boat-shaped shells with long, straight hinge lines bearing many small, interlocking teeth. The shells are usually coated with a thick, sometimes hairy periostracum (outer organic shell layer). Many of these clams have rows of simple eyes along the mantle margins. Most of the 200 or so known species are found in tropical seas, with only a few species occurring in temperate areas. Ark shells are slow-moving or sedentary. Many species, especially those of the genera Arca and Barbatia, live attached by a byssus (a tuft of horny threads secreted by a gland on the foot) in rock and coral crevices. Other species, particularly of the genus Anadara, live shallowly buried in sands and silts. Some species, such as the western African Anadara senilis and the Southeast Asian Anadara granosa, have provided a source of food for humans since prehistoric times.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Ark shell — (Zo[ o]l.) A marine bivalve shell belonging to the genus {Arca} and its allies. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ark-shell — arkˈ shell noun A box like bivalve mollusc shell (genus Arca) • • • Main Entry: ↑ark …   Useful english dictionary

  • ark shell — noun marine bivalve mollusk having a heavy toothed shell with a deep boat like inner surface • Hypernyms: ↑bivalve, ↑pelecypod, ↑lamellibranch • Member Holonyms: ↑Arca, ↑genus Arca * * * noun Etymology: so called …   Useful english dictionary

  • False ark shell — Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Bivalvia …   Wikipedia

  • noah's ark shell — noun see noah s ark 1 …   Useful english dictionary

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  • ark — n. [L. arca, chest] (MOLLUSCA: Bivalvia) A marine arcoid bivalve with an equivalve shell; a heavy box like shell; an arkshell …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • Noah's Ark — 1. See under Noah (def. 1). 2. an ark shell, Arca noae. [1605 15] * * * …   Universalium

  • box shell — noun : ark shell …   Useful english dictionary

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