Limidae

---

title: "Limidae" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["limidae", "bivalve-families", "taxa-named-by-constantine-samuel-rafinesque"] description: "Family of bivalves" topic_path: "general/limidae" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limidae" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Family of bivalves ::

| image = Limidae species.JPG | image_caption = Ctenoides ales | display_parents = 3 | grandparent_authority = Moore, 1952 | parent_authority = Rafinesque, 1815 | taxon = Limidae | authority = Rafinesque, 1815 | subdivision_ranks = Genera | subdivision = See text

The Limidae or file shells are members of the only family of bivalve molluscs in the order Limida. The family includes 130 living species, assigned to 10 genera. Widely distributed in all seas from shallow to deep waters, the species are usually epifaunal or nestling, with many species building byssal nests for protection. The majority of species are capable of irregular swimming by waving their long mantle tentacles.

Genera

All taxa marked † are extinct.

• Acesta H. and A. Adams, 1858
• †Antiquilima Cox, 1943
• Acestarica Dekkers, 2022
• † Antiquilima L. R. Cox, 1943
• Ctenoides Mörch, 1853
• †Ctenostreon Eichwald, 1862
• †Dimorphoconcha Wasmer & Hautmann, 2012
• Divarilima Powell, 1958
• Escalima Iredale, 1929
• Lima Bruguière, 1789
• Limaria Link, 1807
• Limatula S. V. Wood, 1839
• Limea Bronn, 1831
• Mantellina Sacco, 1904
• † Palaeolima Hind, 1903
• †Plagiostoma J. Sowerby, 1814
• †Pseudolimea Arkell, 1933
• † Seymourtula Zinsmeister, 1988

References

• Bieler, R.; Carter, J. G.; Coan, E. V. (2010). Classification of Bivalve families. Pp. 113-133, in: Bouchet P. & Rocroi J.-P. (2010), Nomenclator of Bivalve Families. Malacologia. 52(2): 1-184.
• Stuardo J. (1968). On the phylogeny, taxonomy and distribution of the Limidae (Mollusca: Bivalvia). PhD thesis, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. 327 pp
• Valentich-Scott P., Coan E.V. & Zelaya D. (2020). Bivalve seashells of western South America. Marine bivalve mollusks from Punta Aguja, Peru to Isla Chiloé, Chile. vii + 593 pp. Santa Barbara: Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.

References

1. {{WRMS species. 1777. ''Limoida'' Moore, 1952. 7 July 2010

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::