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Project Noah Nature School
Spondylus (aurantius?)
About 30 cm in size, this big bivalve is very similar to an oyster but more vividly colored. 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 together with a ball and socket type of hinge, rather than a toothed hinge as is more common in other bivalves.
Clinging to the reef walls and externally covered by sessile organisms.
Spotted on Nov 18, 2008
Submitted on Jul 31, 2011
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