Phaxas is a genus of small razor shells in the family Pharidae. Members of the genus have a pair of elongate valves and live in soft sediments on the sea bed. They have a muscular foot with which they can dig rapidly and a short siphon which they extend to the surface of the substrate. They are suspension feeders.[1]
| Phaxas | |
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| Shell of Phaxas tenellus (holotype at MNHN, Paris) | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Bivalvia |
| Order: | Adapedonta |
| Superfamily: | Solenoidea |
| Family: | Pharidae |
| Genus: | Phaxas Leach in Gray, 1852 |
| Species | |
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See text | |
| Synonyms | |
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Species
editThe following species are recognised:[2]
- Phaxas pellucidus (Pennant, 1777)
- Phaxas tenellus Cosel, 1993
Species brought into synonymy:
- Phaxas adriaticus (Coen, 1933): synonym of Phaxas pellucidus (Pennant, 1777)
- Phaxas cultellus (Linnaeus, 1758): synonym of Ensiculus cultellus (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Phaxas decipiens (E. A. Smith, 1904) accepted as Afrophaxas decipiens (E. A. Smith, 1904)
References
edit- ^ Barrett, J. & C. M. Yonge (1958) Collins Pocket Guide to the Sea Shore. Collins, London
- ^ World Register of Marine Species
- Coen G. (1933). Molluschi nuovi di Rovigno. Note dell'Istituto Italo-Germanico di Biologia marina di Rovigno d'Istria, 6: 1-8, 1 pl.
- Vaught, K.C.; Tucker Abbott, R.; Boss, K.J. (1989). A classification of the living Mollusca. American Malacologists: Melbourne. ISBN 0-915826-22-4. XII, 195 pp.
External links
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