Glycymeris

Remarks

Common name: Bittersweet clams.

Glycymeris da Costa, 1778.

Geological range: Late Cretaceous to Recent (source: Cox et al., 1969, Treatise N267).

Geographic distribution: A distributional map for modern Glycymeris may be accessed from OBIS. A distributional map for ancient Glycymeris may be accessed from the Paleobiology Database.

Diversity: The WoRMS database recognizes 59 species of extant Glycymeris (unvetted). The Paleobiology Database recognizes 81 species from the fossil record (unvetted).

Paleoecology: As members of the Glycymerididae, it is assumed that all species of Glycymeris are epifaunal or infaunal suspension feeders and are unattached and actively mobile. Source: Todd (2016).

Phylogenetic status: Paraphyletic. A recent molecular phylogenetic analysis by Combosch and Giribet (2016) does not support the monophyly of Glycymeris.