Phaxas

Phaxas is a genus of small razor shells in the family Pharidae. Members of the genus have a pair of elongate valves and live in soft sediments on the sea bed. They have a muscular foot with which they can dig rapidly and a short siphon which they extend to the surface of the substrate. They are suspension feeders.

Species

The following species are recognised:

• Phaxas pellucidus<small> (Pennant, 1777)</small>
• Phaxas tenellus<small> Cosel, 1993</small>

Species brought into synonymy:

• Phaxas adriaticus<small> (Coen, 1933)</small>: synonym of Phaxas pellucidus <small>(Pennant, 1777)</small>
• Phaxas cultellus <small>(Linnaeus, 1758)</small>: synonym of Ensiculus cultellus <small>(Linnaeus, 1758)</small>
• Phaxas decipiens <small>(E. A. Smith, 1904)</small> accepted as Afrophaxas decipiens <small>(E. A. Smith, 1904)</small>

References

• Coen G. (1933). Molluschi nuovi di Rovigno. Note dell'Istituto Italo-Germanico di Biologia marina di Rovigno d'Istria, 6: 1-8, 1 pl.
• Vaught, K.C.; Tucker Abbott, R.; Boss, K.J. (1989). A classification of the living Mollusca. American Malacologists: Melbourne. ISBN 0-915826-22-4. XII, 195 pp.

External links

• Gray, J. E. (1852). Molluscorum Britanniae Synopsis: a synopsis of the Mollusca of Great Britain. John van Vorst, London, xvi, 376 pp