Biology/Natural History: Makes U-shaped burrows in the mud, especially in areas such as sewage outfalls and areas with abundant woody debris which are highly enriched in organics, low in oxygen, and high in hydrogen sulfide. The clam above was harvested from the Hyperion sewage outfall off Los Angeles, CA at a depth of about 100 m before sewage treatment inproved there. These clams harbor symbiotic sulfide-oxidizing bacteria in their gills which chemosynthetically derive energy from this reaction. The tissue of freshly collected clams often appears yellow because of the buildup of elemental sulfur. The gut is highly reduced or entirely absent. They may also obtain nutrition by absorbing dissolved organic material from the water.

Solemya is one of a group of "primitive" "Protobranch" bivalves which are different structurally from other bivalves. Most protobranchs live with the anterior end down in sediment. They have two small, bipectinate gills on the posterior end. Water is circulated from the anterior end toward the posterior end and across the gills, rather than in at the posterior ventral end, across the gills, and out at the posterior dorsal end as in most clams. The protobranchs usually have long extensions of the mouth called labial palps, which they extend into the sediment and pick up particles for feeding. (Solemya is different from other protobranchs in several respects--it does not have the long labial palps and gets its nutrition primarily from its symbiotic bacteria.) Some Protobranchs, including Solemya, also have a small flattened "sole" on their foot. The sole has left and right halves which can be folded together to collapse the foot into a narrow profile. The foot is then inserted into the sediment, the sole is unfolded to its wide configuration, and the foot is retracted to draw the clam down into the sediment. Solemya can completely bury itself with two thrusts of the foot in this manner.

Members of Subclass Cryptodonta have thin, equal valves which are elongated and have no hinge teeth, plus protobranchiate (bipenctinate) gills. The anterior adductor muscle is larger than the posterior, and the periostracum overhangs the edge of the shell.

Solemya clams are distinctive because their shell is extremely thin and lightly calcified. The shell cracks as soon as it dries because it is so thin and fragile. A smooth brown periostracum extends far past the edges of the shell. This species has elliptically shaped valves, with the posterior end more acutely rounded than is the anterior end. The dorsal and ventral margins are nearly parallel for most of the clam's length. The hinge has no teeth. There is a small radial rib on the inside of the shell just anterior to the posterior adductor muscle scar. Up to 6 cm long.

How to Distinguish from Similar Species: This clam is distinctive.

Depth range based on 21 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 4 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 4 - 1170
  Temperature range (°C): 7.150 - 12.473
  Nitrate (umol/L): 6.949 - 27.466
  Salinity (PPS): 32.782 - 33.609
  Oxygen (ml/l): 3.282 - 5.667
  Phosphate (umol/l): 0.820 - 2.261
  Silicate (umol/l): 7.986 - 43.852

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 4 - 1170

Temperature range (°C): 7.150 - 12.473

Nitrate (umol/L): 6.949 - 27.466

Salinity (PPS): 32.782 - 33.609

Oxygen (ml/l): 3.282 - 5.667

Phosphate (umol/l): 0.820 - 2.261

Silicate (umol/l): 7.986 - 43.852
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

Depth Range: Shallow subtidal

Habitat: Sediments high in organics and low in oxygen, such as sewage outfalls and near pulp mills.

Genomic DNA is available from 1 specimen with morphological vouchers housed at Australian Museum, Sydney