''Phaxas'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of small razor shells in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Pharidae Pharidae is a taxonomic family of saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs in the order Adapedonta. This family of clams is related to the razor shells, a family which is considered to include Pharidae by some authorities. Genera Genera within ...

. Members of the genus have a pair of elongate valves and live in soft sediments on the sea bed. They have a muscular foot with which they can dig rapidly and a short siphon which they extend to the surface of the substrate. They are

suspension feeder Filter feeders are a sub-group of suspension feeding animals that feed by straining suspended matter and food particles from water, typically by passing the water over a specialized filtering structure. Some animals that use this method of feedin ...

Species

The following species are recognised:World Register of Marine Species
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Phaxas pellucidus ''Phaxas pellucidus'', the transparent razor shell, is a species of marine bivalve mollusc in the family Pharidae. It is found buried in the seabed in coastal waters of northwest Europe, often in great numbers. Description ''P. pellucidus' ...

'' (Pennant, 1777) * '' Phaxas tenellus'' Cosel, 1993 Species brought into synonymy: * ''Phaxas adriaticus'' (Coen, 1933): synonym of ''Phaxas pellucidus'' (Pennant, 1777) * ''Phaxas cultellus'' (Linnaeus, 1758): synonym of '' Ensiculus cultellus'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Phaxas decipiens'' (E. A. Smith, 1904) accepted as '' Afrophaxas decipiens'' (E. A. Smith, 1904)

References

* Coen G. (1933). Molluschi nuovi di Rovigno. Note dell'Istituto Italo-Germanico di Biologia marina di Rovigno d'Istria, 6: 1-8, 1 pl. * Vaught, K.C.; Tucker Abbott, R.; Boss, K.J. (1989). A classification of the living Mollusca. American Malacologists: Melbourne. ISBN 0-915826-22-4. XII, 195 pp.

External links

Gray, J. E. (1852). Molluscorum Britanniae Synopsis: a synopsis of the Mollusca of Great Britain. John van Vorst, London, xvi, 376 pp
{{Commons category Bivalve genera Pharidae