The Geographical Distribution of Animals, Volume 2 / With a study of the relations of living and extinct faunas as elucidating the past changes of the Earth's surface

by Alfred Russel Wallace

Family 15.—MACTRIDÆ. (5 Genera, 147 Species.)

Distribution.—All seas, but more abundant in the Tropics. Gnathodon is found in the Gulf of Mexico; Anatinella in the Oriental region. There are about 60 fossil species, ranging back to the Carboniferous period.

Family 16.—TELLINIDÆ. (11 Genera, 560 Species.)

Distribution.—All seas; most abundant in the Tropics. Galatea is confined to African rivers. There are about 60 fossil species, mostly Tertiary, but ranging back to the Carboniferous period.

Family 17.—SOLENIDÆ. (3 Genera, 63 Species.)

Distribution.—All Temperate and Tropical seas. There are 80 fossil species which range back to the Carboniferous epoch.

Family 18.—MYACIDÆ. (6 Genera, 121 Species.)

Distribution.—All seas. Panopæa inhabits both North and South Temperate seas; Glycimeris, Arctic seas. There are near 350 fossil species, ranging back to the Lower Oolite formation.

Family 19.—ANATINIDÆ. (8 Genera, 246 Species.)

Distribution.—All seas. Pholadomya is from Tropical Africa; Myadora from the Western Pacific; Myochama and Chamostræa are Australian. There are about 400 fossil species, ranging back to the Lower Silurian formation.