Description

• Cardites grayi is a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Carditidae, sometimes known as the rough carditid clam. Its shell is thick, oval to roughly quadrangular, with approximately 14–16 prominent rounded radial ribs crossed by fine concentric growth lines. The shell is commonly brown or reddish-brown, often with a dark, adherent outer covering called the periostracum. Adults can reach approximately 60 mm in length.

Range

• Cardites grayi occurs in the eastern Pacific, including the Gulf of California and the Pacific coast of Mexico south to Guerrero. It has been recorded from the Acapulco area and elsewhere along the Costa Grande of Guerrero.

Habitat

• It inhabits shallow coastal marine environments, particularly rocky and mixed-substrate bottoms where shells, stones, and other hard surfaces provide suitable conditions. It occurs in intertidal and shallow subtidal habitats and is often associated with rocky coastal communities.

Diet

• Cardites grayi is a filter feeder. It draws seawater through its gills, extracting microscopic plankton, bacteria, and suspended organic particles for nourishment. This feeding method allows it to obtain food directly from the water surrounding its shell.