Vesicomya

Vesicomya is a genus of bivalve mollusks in the family Vesicomyidae, a group of deep-sea clams adapted to life in reducing environments. The genus comprises multiple described species found in oceans worldwide, from continental margins to abyssal depths. Members are typically associated with habitats such as hydrocarbon seeps, cold seeps, hydrothermal vent zones, and organic-rich sediments, often at depths ranging from several hundred to several thousand meters.

Biology and ecology: A defining feature of Vesicomya and other vesicomyids is the presence of symbiotic bacteria housed in their gills. These chemosynthetic microbes oxidize sulfide or methane, providing nutrition for the host clam and supporting localized communities in environments where sunlight does not reach. In addition to symbiont-based nutrition, these clams may also filter-feed on suspended particles, with life cycles including pelagic larval stages that contribute to their distribution.

Morphology and reproduction: Vesicomya species are generally small to medium-sized bivalves with a simple shell shape and hinge. They possess siphons and are often adapted to burrowing or sediment-attached lifestyles. Reproduction is typically by broadcast spawning, producing free-swimming larvae that disperse with ocean currents.

Taxonomy and research: Vesicomya has undergone taxonomic revisions as molecular data refine relationships within Vesicomyidae. The genus is of particular interest to deep-sea biology for its role in chemosynthetic ecosystems and as an indicator group for seep and vent habitats.