Spondylus varius

Spondylus varius, is a species of large marine bivalve mollusc in the family Spondylidae, the spiny oysters.

Spondylus varius
A live individual of Spondylus varius, in situ off Mayotte
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Bivalvia
Order:	Pectinida
Family:	Spondylidae
Genus:	Spondylus
Species:	S. varius
Binomial name
Spondylus varius G.B. Sowerby I, 1827
Synonyms
Spondylus varians (probably a misspelling) Spondylus delessertii Chenu, 1844 Spondylus striatospinosus Chenu, 1844

Description

Spondylus varius is the largest of the spiny oysters, reaching a maximum size of about 20 cm. Aside from the size, the shell is easily recognisable because its adult part is white, but a colourful (usually crimson, but it can be yellow) prodissoconch is clearly visible at the apical end.

Right and left valve of the same specimen:

• 
  Right valve
• 
  Left valve

Ecology

It lives at a depths of 30 m, and like most bivalves, is a filter-feeder, using plankton as a food source.

Distribution

This species can be found in the Indo-Pacific Ocean and off Australia, China, the Philippines, Japan, and Taiwan.