Solemyinae Gray 1840

To propel itself, Solemya velesiana uses a large extendable foot that is fringed with tentacles - it can also swim by rapidly opening and closing its shell

The shell is brittle and easily cracked. The periostracum broadly overlaps all the free the shell margins. The hinge has no teeth.

Solemya reidi collected in 1980's from Hyperion Outfall, Los Angeles, CA. The posterior end is to the left. (Photo by: Dave Cowles, August 2007)