In dense clusters byssally attached to hard substrate around the hydrothermal vent, mostly on the walls and flanges of active edifices, at temperatures from 6° to up to 30°C. Endemic to vents. Development with long planktonic larval phase; protoconch is 0.5 mm long.

European waters (ERMS scope)

Mid-Atlantic Ridge: Menez Gwen, Lucky Strike, Rainbow (hybrids between B. azoricus and B. puteoserpentis were observed at Broken Spur vent field).

Shell variable, more or less elongate-modioliform, beaks subterminal but close to the anterior margin. Ventral margin straight to more or less concave. Postero-dorsal margin slightly to markedly convex, occasionally straight. Ligament plate slightly arched. Exterior with dense irregular growth lines and growth waves. Periostracum dull, warm chestnut brown, in umbonal region and often also postero-dorsally lighter brown. Anterior byssus retractor scar in the umbonal cavity, under the beaks. Anterior part of posterior byssus retractor muscle scar under ligament?s end or slightly forward. Animal with large gills. Mantle lobes on anterior half of ventral side separate. Valvular siphonal membrane short, narrow and rather strong.

Shell length up to 121 mm.

Paratype for Bathymodiolus azoricus Cosel & Comtet in Cosel et al., 1999
Catalog Number: USNM 1129903
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Invertebrate Zoology
Preparation: Alcohol (Ethanol)
Collector(s): A. Alayse
Year Collected: 1995
Locality: Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Azores Triple Junction, Menez Gwen hydrothermal field, North Atlantic Ocean
Depth (m): 866

Depth range based on 170 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 170 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 810 - 2300
  Temperature range (°C): 3.279 - 9.211
  Nitrate (umol/L): 17.840 - 18.601
  Salinity (PPS): 34.979 - 35.419
  Oxygen (ml/l): 4.413 - 6.060
  Phosphate (umol/l): 1.114 - 1.225
  Silicate (umol/l): 10.356 - 19.959

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 810 - 2300

Temperature range (°C): 3.279 - 9.211

Nitrate (umol/L): 17.840 - 18.601

Salinity (PPS): 34.979 - 35.419

Oxygen (ml/l): 4.413 - 6.060

Phosphate (umol/l): 1.114 - 1.225

Silicate (umol/l): 10.356 - 19.959
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.


There are 99 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank.  Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species.  See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.


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Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 97
Specimens with Barcodes: 97
Species With Barcodes: 1