Polititapes rhomboides

Polititapes rhomboides, also known as banded venus, banded carpetclam, and banded carpet shell,^[1] is a species of bivalve belonging to the family Veneridae.^[1][2][3] It is found in the Northeast Atlantic from Norway to Morocco and in the Mediterranean^[2][3][4][5] from the intertidal zone down to depths of about 180 m (590 ft)^[3][5] but mostly shallower than 50 m.^[5]

Polititapes rhomboides
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Bivalvia
Order:	Venerida
Family:	Veneridae
Genus:	Polititapes
Species:	P. rhomboides
Binomial name
Polititapes rhomboides (Pennant, 1777)
Synonyms
Venus rhomboides Pennant, 1777 Venerupis rhomboides (Pennant, 1777)

Description

The length of Polititapes rhomboides shell is typically 4–5 cm (1.6–2.0 in) but can reach 7 cm (2.8 in).^[5]

Fishery

Polititapes rhomboides is harvested for human consumption,^[3][4] with an annual production of about 500^[4] to 1,500 tonnes.^[5] Commercial fisheries use dredges while recreational harvest use primitive tools in the intertidal zone.^[5]