Nuculoida
bivalve order
Quick Summary
The Nuculoida are an order of bivalve mollusks characterized by equal shell valves and a taxodont hinge, meaning it has numerous small, tooth-like projections. They are typically marine detritivores, meaning they consume organic matter found on the seafloor. These bivalves are infaunal, living buried within the sediment, and possess large labial palps used for feeding. The genus Nuculana, a representative of this order, has a teardrop-shaped shell and has existed since the Silurian Period.12
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