Spondylus varius
Spondylus varius, is a species of large marine bivalve mollusc in the family Spondylidae, the spiny oysters.
| Spondylus varius | |
|---|---|
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| A live individual of Spondylus varius, in situ off Mayotte | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Bivalvia |
| Order: | Pectinida |
| Family: | Spondylidae |
| Genus: | Spondylus |
| Species: | S. varius |
| Binomial name | |
| Spondylus varius G.B. Sowerby I, 1827 | |
| Synonyms | |
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Description
Spondylus varius is the largest of the spiny oysters, reaching a maximum size of about 20 cm. Aside from the size, the shell is easily recognisable because its adult part is white, but a colourful (usually crimson, but it can be yellow) prodissoconch is clearly visible at the apical end.
Ecology
It lives at a depths of 30 m, and like most bivalves, is a filter-feeder, using plankton as a food source.
Distribution
This species can be found in the Indo-Pacific Ocean and off Australia, China, the Philippines, Japan, and Taiwan.
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