Spondylus

Thorny Oysters
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Bivalvia Order: Ostreoida Family: Spondylidae Genus: Spondylus
Species
many; for examples see text

Spondylus is a genus of bivalve molluscs, the only genus in the family Spondylidae. As well as being the systematic name, Spondylus is the most often used common name for these animals, though they are also known as Thorny Oysters.

There are many species of Spondylus, and they vary considerably in appearance and range. They are grouped in the same superfamily as the scallops, but like the true oysters (family Ostreidae) they cement themselves to rocks, rather than attaching themselves by a byssus. Their key characteristic is that the two parts of their shells are hinged togehter with a ball and socket type of hinge, rather than a toothed hinge as is more common in other bivalves.

Spondylus have multiple eyes around the edges of the shell, and they have a relatively well developed nervous system. Their nervous ganglia are concentrated in the visceral region, with recognisable optic lobes, connected to the eyes.

Spondylus shell are much sought after by collectors, and there is a lively commercial market in them.

Some typical species are:

• Wright's Thorny Oyster, Spondylus wrightianus
• Japanese Spiny Oyster, Spondylus japonica
• Pacific Thorny Oyster Spondylus princeps
• Atlantic Thorny Oyster Spondylus americanus
• Regal Thorny Oyster Spondylus regius
• Nude Thorny Oyster Spondylus anacanthus
• European Thorny Oyster Spondylus gaederopus
• Spondylus versicolor
• Spondylus tenellus

External links

• Information about Spondylus from the website of the Gladys Archerd Shell Collection at Washington State University Tri-Cities Natural History Museum