Geloina

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Geloina
Geloina expansa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Venerida
Family: Cyrenoididae
Genus: Geloina
J. E. Gray, 1842
Type species
Geloina coaxans
J. F. Gmelin, 1791

Geloina is a genus of bivalves in the family Cyrenoididae[1].

Geloina species are widely found in the Indo-Pacific region, specifically South East Asia. They are caught for culinary purposes, through both artisanal and commercial fisheries [2].

Taxonomy

Previously a part of the Cyrenidae family due to morphological similarities, Geloina was transferred to Cyrenoididae in a research article published in the Invertebrate Systematics journal. The article reveals that Geloina species were more closely related to those in Cyrenoididae than Cyrenidae.[3]

Many of Geloina species previously belong to the genus Polymesoda. For the names of these species, see List of former species in the genus Polymesoda.

There has been disagreement about the validity and distinction of some Geloina species based on their external description. Research was done using species delimitation on barcoding data, revealing that there are multiple cryptic species within Geloina expansa.[3]

Species

Geloina bengalensis (MNHN-IM-2012-27662) 002
Geloina bengalensis
Geloina nitida (MNHN-IM-2000-32436)
Geloina nitida

Morphology

Like others in the family, Geloina species have olive-colored periostraca. The genus' distinct characteristic is its smooth lateral teeth. [4]

When young, Geloina species shells have a color mix of yellow and shades of green. This eventually darkens as they ages. Their length can vary due to different living habitats such salinity, pH level and sediment composition.[5] Geloina expansa can measure more than 100mm in length.

Geloina is dioecious and its sex can be determined by the visual and color of the gonads. [5]

Behaviours & ecology

Geloina are brackish water clams. They lives semi-infaunal. They can be found burrowed deep in the soft sediments of tropical and sub-tropical mangrove swamps.[6] Adults are mostly seen in the landward side and favor high-tide, while juveniles are mostly seen in the seaward side and favor low-tide and mid-tide.[7]

Geloina species are filter-feeders. They use a specialized siphon system to draw in water, filtering out plankton, algae, and organic particles through their gills while expelling cleaned water. Research has been done on the topic of using Geloina expansa as a method for monitoring heavy metal pollution in water sources.[5]

References

  1. "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Geloina J. E. Gray, 1842". marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  2. Clemente, Sandhya; Ingole, Baban (2011). "RECRUITMENT OF MUD CLAM Polymesoda erosa (SOLANDER, 1876) IN A MANGROVE HABITAT OF CHORAO ISLAND, GOA". Brazilian Journal of Oceanography. 59 (2): 154. doi:10.1590/S1679-87592011000200004. S2CID 53469415.
  3. Wu, Ruiwen; Liu, Lili; Liu, Xiongjun; Ye, Yingying; Wu, Xiaoping; Xie, Zhicai; Liu, Zhenyuan; Li, Zhengfei (2023-09-26). Giribet, Gonzalo (ed.). "Towards a systematic revision of the superfamily Cyrenoidea (Bivalvia: Imparidentia): species delimitation, multi-locus phylogeny and mitochondrial phylogenomics". Invertebrate Systematics. 37 (9): 607–622. doi:10.1071/IS23015. ISSN 1445-5226.
  4. Synopsis of the contents of the British Museum (44 ed.). London: Woodfall and Son. 1842. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.144663. Archived from the original on 2025-06-22.
  5. Ngo, Thi Thu Thao; Singano, Atupele Ellen (December 2024). "Mangrove Clam Genus Geloina: A Comprehensive Review of Biology". Journal of Fisheries and Environment. 48 (3): 70 – via ResearchGate.
  6. Ngo, Thi Thu Thao; Singano, Atupele Ellen (December 2024). "Mangrove Clam Genus Geloina: A Comprehensive Review of Biology". Journal of Fisheries and Environment. 48 (3): 67 – via ResearchGate.
  7. Clemente, Sandhya; Ingole, Baban (2011). "RECRUITMENT OF MUD CLAM Polymesoda erosa (SOLANDER, 1876) IN A MANGROVE HABITAT OF CHORAO ISLAND, GOA". Brazilian Journal of Oceanography. 59 (2): 159. doi:10.1590/S1679-87592011000200004. S2CID 53469415.