Bernard Dupont, Frankreich
Info
Spondylus varius G. B. Sowerby I, 1827
Spondylus varius is a large sea shell from the Spondylidae family (spiny oysters). The shells of spiny oysters are highly asymmetrical, with the right-hand shell curved and cemented to a solid substrate. The upper left valve in particular is usually heavily decorated with spiny projections, which is where the colloquial name “spiny oyster” comes from. More rarely, the upper shell has only strong ribs.
Spiny oysters usually hang on reef walls in small caves and overhangs, where the lighting is rather weak and there is a strong current.
Spondylus varius is the largest of the spiny oysters and reaches a maximum size of about 20 cm. Apart from its size, the shell is easy to recognize because the adult part is white, but a colorful (usually purple-red, but also yellow) prodissoconch is clearly visible at the apical end.
It lives at depths of up to 30 m and, like most mussels, is a filter feeder that uses plankton as a food source.
Spiny oysters, as their name suggests, have spines and protuberances and are not smooth. The growth on the spiny oyster gives the mussel perfect camouflage. As the growth usually does not survive transport, they tend to look rather naked in the aquarium.
Experience has shown that they cannot be kept in the aquarium for long and usually only live for a few months!
Synonymised names
Spondylus delessertii Chenu, 1844 · unaccepted
Spondylus striatospinosus Chenu, 1844 · unaccepted
Spondylus varians [sic] · unaccepted (probably a misspelling)
Spondylus varius is a large sea shell from the Spondylidae family (spiny oysters). The shells of spiny oysters are highly asymmetrical, with the right-hand shell curved and cemented to a solid substrate. The upper left valve in particular is usually heavily decorated with spiny projections, which is where the colloquial name “spiny oyster” comes from. More rarely, the upper shell has only strong ribs.
Spiny oysters usually hang on reef walls in small caves and overhangs, where the lighting is rather weak and there is a strong current.
Spondylus varius is the largest of the spiny oysters and reaches a maximum size of about 20 cm. Apart from its size, the shell is easy to recognize because the adult part is white, but a colorful (usually purple-red, but also yellow) prodissoconch is clearly visible at the apical end.
It lives at depths of up to 30 m and, like most mussels, is a filter feeder that uses plankton as a food source.
Spiny oysters, as their name suggests, have spines and protuberances and are not smooth. The growth on the spiny oyster gives the mussel perfect camouflage. As the growth usually does not survive transport, they tend to look rather naked in the aquarium.
Experience has shown that they cannot be kept in the aquarium for long and usually only live for a few months!
Synonymised names
Spondylus delessertii Chenu, 1844 · unaccepted
Spondylus striatospinosus Chenu, 1844 · unaccepted
Spondylus varians [sic] · unaccepted (probably a misspelling)
