More than 2200 species of the wild flora and fauna photographed in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico and the surrounding area.
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Molluscs of Zihuatanejo
PHYLUM MOLLUSCA
Jewel Boxes
Chamidae (Family)
-Gastropods (Class Gastropoda)
-Bivalves (Class Bivalvia)
-Subclass Autobranchia
-Infraclass Heteroconchia
-Subterclass Euheterodonta
-Superorder Imparidentia
-Order Venerida
-Superfamily Chamoidea
-Jewel Boxes (Family Chamidae)
Jewel boxes, belonging to the family Chamidae, are a group of bivalve mollusks known for their thick, irregularly shaped shells. These bivalves are commonly found in warm, shallow waters, where they attach themselves to hard substrates like rocks and coral reefs using byssal threads or by cementing one valve directly to the surface. Jewel boxes are filter feeders, meaning they rely on suspended organic particles and plankton in the water for nutrition. Like other bivalves, they use their gills (ctenidia) to extract food particles from the surrounding water.
Description
Chamidae is a family of marine bivalves commonly known as jewel boxes. Their shells are thick, irregularly rounded to oval, and often strongly sculptured with ribs, folds, spines, or nodules. Many species develop highly unequal valves and attach themselves permanently to rocks or other hard surfaces as adults. Shell colours range from white and cream to yellow, orange, reddish-brown, purple, and mottled combinations.
Range
Chamidae has a broad distribution in tropical and subtropical seas worldwide. Along the eastern Pacific, members occur from the Gulf of California and Pacific coast of Mexico south through Central America and into northern South America. Chamids are present in the coastal waters around Zihuatanejo, Guerrero.
Habitat
Jewel boxes live on hard substrates in shallow marine environments, particularly rocky reefs, coral communities, rock faces, and crevices. Adults cement one valve to the substrate and remain attached, often becoming partially overgrown by algae, sponges, corals, and other encrusting organisms. They occur from the intertidal zone into shallow subtidal waters.
Diet
Chamids are suspension-feeding filter feeders. They draw seawater through their gills and capture suspended microscopic food, including phytoplankton, bacteria, and fine organic particles.