''Solemya borealis'' , the boreal awning clam, is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusc in the

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

Solemyidae Solemyidae is a family of saltwater clams, marine protobranch bivalve mollusks in the order Solemyida. Biology Solemyids are remarkable in that their digestive tract is either extremely small or non-existent, and their feeding appendages are too ...

the awning clams. This species is found along the northeastern coast of North America, from

Nova Scotia Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland". Most of the population are native Eng ...

Connecticut Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its capita ...

. S. borealis belong to the Petrasma subgenus; being characterized by having an elongated oval shell with parallel ventral and dorsal margins. Individuals may reach a length of 8 to 10 cm and have a periostracum of dark brown color. Nutritionally, S. borealis contains concentrations of chemoautotrophic bacteria in inner gill filaments,

symbiotically Symbiosis (from Greek , , "living together", from , , "together", and , bíōsis, "living") is any type of a close and long-term biological interaction between two different biological organisms, be it mutualistic, commensalistic, or parasit ...

attached to the host. Conway, N.M., Howes, B.L., McDowell Capuzzo, J.E. ''et al.'' Characterization and site description of ''Solemya borealis'' (Bivalvia; Solemyidae), another bivalve-bacteria symbiosis. ''Marine Biology'' 112, 601–613 (1992).

References

Solemyidae Bivalves of New Zealand Bivalves described in 1818 {{bivalve-stub