Loading

Saltwater clam, MAL-19995 Ventral view of specimen, entire.

C. Abbott Davis

Chicago Academy of Sciences / Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

Chicago Academy of Sciences / Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Chicago, IL, United States

This saltwater clam is classified as Gastrochaena difficilis. The specimen shown here (embedded in the coral) is a syntype of the original species, G. mowbrayi, meaning that it was used to help describe G. mowbrayi as a new taxonomic classification. Taxonomy is far from static, however, and at a later date another scientist decided that G. mowbrayi was actually the same species as G. difficilis. Museum specimens such as this allow taxonomists to revist the past and make important distinctions that help us map the tree of life.

Show lessRead more
  • Title: Saltwater clam, MAL-19995 Ventral view of specimen, entire.
  • Creator: C. Abbott Davis
  • Date Created: 1904
  • Location: Harrington Sound, Bermuda
  • Subject Keywords: type specimen
Chicago Academy of Sciences / Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

Additional Items

Get the app

Explore museums and play with Art Transfer, Pocket Galleries, Art Selfie, and more

Home
Discover
Play
Nearby
Favorites