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Family of bivalves From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pholadidae, known as piddocks or angelwings, are a family of bivalve molluscs similar to a clam.
| Pholadidae Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
| |
| One valve of a shell of Cyrtopleura costata | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Bivalvia |
| Order: | Myida |
| Superfamily: | Pholadoidea |
| Family: | Pholadidae Lamarck, 1809 |
| Genera | |
|
See text | |
Piddocks are unique in that each side of their shells is divided into 2 or 3 separate sections. Furthermore, one of the piddock's shells has a set of ridges or "teeth", which they use to grind away at clay or soft rock and create tubular burrows. The shape of these burrows is due to the rotating motion of the piddock as it grinds the rock to make its home. The piddock stays in the burrow it digs for the entirety of its eight-year lifespan, with only its siphon exposed to take in water that it filters for food. When the piddock dies and leaves an empty tubular burrow, other marine life such as sea anemone, crabs and other molluscs may use the burrow.
Some species of Pholadidae may reach up to 18 cm (7″). Their coloration is typically white, though through consumption of red tide algae some may develop a pink coloration.
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