Kitten Paw Shells of the Plicatulidae Family

Two Kitten Paw Shells of the Pliocatulidae Family can be found in this website:

Phylogeny: Kitten Paw Shells of the Plicatulidae Family are in the phylum Mollusca and the class Bivalvia. They are in the subclass Autobranchia, the infraclass Pteriomorphia, the order Pectinida, and the superfamily Plicatuloidea. The Plicatulidae Family is the only family in this superfamily. The Plicatulidae Family contains one genus and seventeen species. The name Plicatulidae comes from the Latin word meaning “folded”, “plaited”, or “ridged”, and refers to the radial ridges found on shells in this family.

Description: Kitten Paw Shells are irregularly ovate to trigonal in outline and compressed in profile. They may be equivalve or inequivalve, with the most common difference being the right valve being more inflated. Some species may have auricles at the hinge. Some sources say that all species in this family attach to the substrate with their right valve, while others say it can be right or left. The exterior is sculpted with few to many, strong radial ribs. The hinge plate is short, with strong interlocking teeth. Kitten Paw Shells are generally less than 10 cm (3.9 inches) in length, with many species being less than half that size.

Habitat and Distribution: Kitten Paw Shells are found attached to rocks and other hard surfaces. They live from the intertidal zone to depths of 640 m (2,100 feet). Kitten Paw Shells are found worldwide in subtropical to tropical seas. Seven species from this family are found in Mexican waters.

Natural History: Kitten Paw Shells are suspension feeders that filter plankton and fine organic matter from the surrounding water. Their predators include birds, crabs, carnivorous mollusks, sea stars, and rays. They are gonochoric and reproduce sexually, through broadcast spawning, with external fertilization.