Protobranchia Pelseneer 1889

To propel itself, Solemya velesiana uses a large extendable foot that is fringed with tentacles - it can also swim by rapidly opening and closing its shell

The shell is brittle and easily cracked. The periostracum broadly overlaps all the free the shell margins. The hinge has no teeth.

Strong side light (here from above, from the dorsal side) shows the fine concentric striations on the shell that cut across the concentric growth lines. The growth lines are centered on the umbo, while the other striations are centered to the right (posterior to) the umbo. The foot can be seen protruding from the anterior end of the shell to the left.

Solemya reidi collected in 1980's from Hyperion Outfall, Los Angeles, CA. The posterior end is to the left. (Photo by: Dave Cowles, August 2007)