The Veneridae Family includes 793 species comprising 13 subfamilies (Venerinae (32 genus), Callocardiinae (27), Tapetinae (15), Gouldiinae (12), Petricolinae (7), Clementiinae (4), ...)
and 109 genus (Dosinia (101 species), Pitar (56), Timoclea (32), Tivela (28), Petricola (27), Leukoma (23), ...)

Phylum      : Mollusca
 Class       : ⤷Bivalvia 
  Subclass    : ⤷Autobranchia 
   Infraclass  : ⤷Heteroconchia 
    Subterclass : ⤷Euheterodonta 
     Superorder  : ⤷Imparidentia 
      Order       : ⤷Venerida 
       Superfamily : ⤷Veneroidea 
        Family      : ⤷Veneridae

Common name : venus clams, carpet shells or pepper shells

Aspect : thick and strong; equivalve and ovate to subquadrate, with a rounded anterior end, straight or slightly curved ventral margin, and a pointed or rounded posterior; the umbo (beak) is often prominent and curved forward; coarse radial ribs, concentric lamellae, or a combination; some species are smooth; strong hinge with three cardinal teeth in each valve; colors ranging from white and cream to brown, purple, or mottled patterns; external surfaces may have zigzag or chevron markings, while interiors are often glossy white with purple or pink tinges; common range size about 3 to 10 cm

Feeding : filtration of microorganisms in suspension (phytoplankton, zooplankton, detritus, and organic particles)

Environment : worldwide, especially abundant in temperate and tropical coasts; in intertidal to shallow subtidal zones (0–50 m) along beaches, estuaries, lagoons, and nearshore marine environments in sandy to muddy sands, often with shell gravel