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Mercenaria (quahog)

Bivalvia - Cardiida - Veneridae

Taxonomy
Mercenaria was named by Schumacher (1817) [Sepkoski's age data: T Ol-u R Sepkoski's reference number: 1112]. It is extant.

It was reranked as Venus (Mercenaria) by Gardner (1943).

It was assigned to Venus by Gardner (1943); to Chioninae by Ward (1992); to Veneridae by Ward and Blackwelder (1987), Coan et al. (2000), Todd (2001); to Veneroida by Sepkoski (2002); and to Venerinae by Coan and Valentich-Scott (2012).

Synonyms
Synonymy list
YearName and author
1817Mercenaria Schumacher
1943Venus (Mercenaria) Gardner p. 129
1983Mclellania Wilson p. 486
1987Mercenaria Ward and Blackwelder p. 130
1992Mercenaria Ward p. 107
2000Mercenaria Coan et al. p. 373
2001Mercenaria Todd
2002Mclelannia Sepkoski
2002Mercenaria Sepkoski
2012Mercenaria Coan and Valentich-Scott p. 781

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
—Bilateria
—EubilateriaAx 1987
—Protostomia
—Spiralia
superphylumLophotrochozoa
phylumMollusca
classBivalvia
—Eubivalvia
subclassAutobranchia(Groblen 1894)
infraclassHeteroconchia(Gray 1854)
—CardiomorphiFerussac 1822
RankNameAuthor
—CardioniFerussac 1822
—CardiidiaFerussac 1822
—CardiataFerussac 1822
superorderCardiiformiiFerussac 1822
orderCardiidaFerussac 1822
suborderCardiidinaFerussac 1822
—Veneroidei(Gray 1854)
—VeneroiteiGray 1854
superfamilyVeneroidea(Rafinesque 1815)
familyVeneridaeRafinesque 1815
subfamilyVenerinaeRafinesque 1815
genusMercenariaSchumacher 1817

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

G. Mercenaria Schumacher 1817 [quahog]
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†Mercenaria blakei Ward 1992
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Invalid names: Venus mortoni Conrad 1837 [synonym]
†Mercenaria capax Conrad 1843
†Mercenaria cuneata Conrad 1869
†Mercenaria druidi Ward 1992
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Invalid names: Venus (Mercenaria) berryi Gardner 1943 [replaced]
†Mercenaria ducatelli Conrad 1838
†Mercenaria erecta Kellum 1926
†Mercenaria gardnerae Kellum 1926
†Mercenaria langdoni Dall 1900
Mercenaria mercenaria Linnaeus 1758
†Mercenaria nannodes Gardner 1947
†Mercenaria permagna Conrad 1838
†Mercenaria plena Conrad 1869
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†Mercenaria prodroma Gardner 1947
†Mercenaria tetrica Conrad 1838
Mercenaria violacea Schumacher 1817
Invalid names: Mclellania Wilson 1983 [synonym]
Diagnosis
No diagnoses are available
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: aragonitef
Locomotion: facultatively mobileg
Life habit: infaunalg
Diet: suspension feederg
Vision: blindc
Comments: LIFE HISTORY: IS, MA, UN, SU according to Todd (2001).g
Created: 2009-09-04 16:37:21
Modified: 2009-09-04 18:37:21
Source: g = genus, f = family, c = class
References: Aberhan et al. 2004, Hendy et al. 2009, Kiessling 2004

Age range

Maximum range based only on fossils: base of the Late/Upper Oligocene to the top of the Holocene or 27.30000 to 0.00000 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 23.04 Ma

Collections (328 total)


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Chattian27.3 - 23.04USA (North Carolina) Mercenaria capax (71650)
Late/Upper Oligocene27.3 - 23.04USA (North Carolina) Mercenaria capax (71651) Venus gardnerae, Venus erecta, Mercenaria capax (71652)
Early/Lower Miocene23.04 - 15.98USA (Virginia) Mercenaria capax (60658 71653)
Early/Lower Miocene23.04 - 15.98USA (New Jersey) Venus mercenaria (59723 59725 59736 59737 59748 59754 92755 92759 92760 92761 92769) Venus mercenaria, Venus ducatelli (59335) Venus plena (59336 92762) Venus sp. (92757)
Early/Lower Miocene23.04 - 15.98Brazil (Para) Mercenaria prototypa (65162 112590)
Early/Lower Miocene23.04 - 15.98USA (North Carolina) Venus gardnerae, Venus erecta (41986 41987 41993)
Miocene23.04 - 5.333Japan Mercenaria chitaniana (52320 52322 52323 52328 52330)
Miocene23.04 - 5.333USA (Virginia) Mercenaria sp. (61276)
Miocene23.04 - 5.333USA (New Jersey) Venus mercenaria (92756)
Burdigalian20.45 - 15.98USA (Delaware) Mercenaria ducatelli (18579)
Burdigalian20.45 - 15.98USA (Florida) Mercenaria langdoni (68971) Venus langdoni (42367 42424 42443 42447) Venus prodroma (42663 42677 42682 42685)
Burdigalian20.45 - 15.98USA (Maryland) Mercenaria ducatelli (79101) Mercenaria sp. (79102)
Burdigalian20.45 - 15.98USA (Georgia) Venus langdoni (42069 42109) Venus langdoni, Venus prodroma (42212)
Langhian15.98 - 13.82Japan (Hokkaido) Mercenaria chitaniana (77919)
Langhian15.98 - 13.82Japan Mercenaria yokoyamai (127690)
Langhian15.98 - 13.82USA (Maryland) Mercenaria blakei (55517 69023 69024) Venus mercenaria (70819 70823) Venus rileyi (60379)
Langhian - Serravallian15.98 - 11.63Brazil (Para) Mercenaria prototypa (58454)
Middle Miocene15.98 - 11.63Russian Federation (Sakhalinskaya) Mercenaria yiizukai (61933)
Middle Miocene15.98 - 11.63Japan Mercenaria protostimpsoni (81701) Mercenaria sp. (81703) Mercenaria yiizukai (70399 70597 81704) Mercenaria yiizukai, Mercenaria protostimpsoni (81705)
Serravallian13.82 - 11.63Japan Mercenaria yokoyamai (44962)
Serravallian13.82 - 11.63USA (Maryland) Mercenaria cuneata (60376 70832 70844 70845 70846 71638 71639) Mercenaria plena (79115) Mercenaria sp. (70828 71641 79103 79105 79107 79109 79110 79111 79114 79352 79353) Mercenaria sp., Mercenaria campechiensis (79106 79112) Mercenaria sp., Mercenaria campechiensis, Mercenaria plena (79113) Mercenaria staminea, Mercenaria cuneata (55396) Venus campechiensis (70842) Venus mercenaria, Mercenaria cuneata (70830)
Serravallian13.82 - 11.63USA (Florida) Mercenaria langdoni (68970) Mercenaria prodona (80018 80019 80021) Mercenaria prodroma (136943) Mercenaria prodroma, Mercenaria nannodes (111204) Venus nannodes (42692 42819 42870 42874 42875 42884 43014 94810) Venus prodroma (43024)
Serravallian13.82 - 11.63USA (Virginia) Mercenaria cuneata (71642 71643)
Tortonian11.63 - 7.246USA (Virginia) Mercenaria tetrica (71632 71637)
Tortonian11.63 - 7.246USA (Maryland) Mercenaria cuneata (71631 71635) Mercenaria sp. (70849 70850) Mercenaria tetrica (70853 71636)
Late/Upper Miocene11.63 - 5.333Indonesia Mercenaria problematica (70077 70100)
Late/Upper Miocene11.63 - 5.333USA (Virginia) Mercenaria druidi (59295 59296) Mercenaria sp. (61290 79754)
Late/Upper Miocene11.63 - 5.333USA (North Carolina) Mercenaria druidi (59299)
Late/Upper Miocene11.63 - 5.333Haiti Venus berryi (60106)
Late/Upper Miocene11.63 - 5.333Japan Mercenaria chitaniana (52108 52109 52112 52113 52115 52117 52123 52124 52178 52186 52187 52237 52238)
Late/Upper Miocene11.63 - 5.333USA (Maryland) Mercenaria campechiensis, Mercenaria tetrica (69032) Mercenaria cuneata (59302 59305) Mercenaria sp. (68978) Mercenaria subcuneata (59306) Mercenaria tetrica (51722 59303 59304 69017) Mercenaria tetrica, Mercenaria cuneata (51727)
Messinian7.246 - 5.333USA (Virginia) Mercenaria druidi (71536 71618 71619 71623 71626 71628)
Early/Lower Pliocene5.333 - 3.6USA (Florida) Mercenaria campechiensis (41496)
Early/Lower Pliocene5.333 - 3.6USA (Virginia) Mercenaria inflata (59297)
Zanclean5.333 - 3.6USA (Virginia) Mercenaria inflata (71620 71624)
Zanclean5.333 - 3.6Japan (Aomori) Mercenaria stempsoni (55849)
Zanclean5.333 - 3.6USA (North Carolina) Mclelannia aenigma (52582)
Zanclean5.333 - 3.6USA (South Carolina) Mercenaria corrugata (60940)
Early/Lower Pliocene - Late/Upper Pliocene5.333 - 2.58USA (North Carolina) Venus campechiensis (59328 59329 59330)
Pliocene5.333 - 2.58Haiti Mercenaria campechiensis (60894)
Pliocene5.333 - 2.58Japan Mercenaria chitaniana (97076) Mercenaria stimpsoni, Mercenaria chitaniana (97111)
Pliocene5.333 - 2.58USA (North Carolina) Mclelannia aenigma (61922) Mclellania aenigma (49983) Mercenaria campechiensis (79249) Mercenaria corrugata, Mclelannia aenigma (61920 61921 61923) Mercenaria rileyi (151326)
Pliocene5.333 - 2.58USA (Virginia) Mercenaria corrugata, Mclelannia aenigma (61925) Venus rileyi (59293)
Zanclean - Piacenzian5.333 - 2.58USA (Virginia) Mercenaria corrugata, Mclelannia aenigma (59155 61926 61927 61928 61929)
Zanclean - Piacenzian5.333 - 2.58USA (Florida) Mercenaria corrugata, Mclelannia aenigma (61924)
Pliocene - Pleistocene5.333 - 0.0117USA (Florida) Mercenaria campechiensis (41749)
Late/Upper Pliocene3.6 - 2.58USA (Florida) Mercenaria carolinensis (79959) Mercenaria ochlockoneensis, Mercenaria rileyi, Mercenaria tridacnoides (79960) Mercenaria rileyi (80037 80044) Venus campechiensis (59484 59485 59486) Venus tridacnoides (59487)
Late/Upper Pliocene3.6 - 2.58USA (South Carolina) Mercenaria tridacnoides (60942)
Late/Upper Pliocene3.6 - 2.58USA (North Carolina) Mercenaria campechiensis (68979 79342) Mercenaria permagna (58895) Mercenaria rileyi (59301) Venus campechiensis (59307 59309 59310 59311 59327)
Late/Upper Pliocene3.6 - 2.58USA (Virginia) Mercenaria campechiensis (80036 80038 80040) Mercenaria sp. (78261 78262 78264 78265 78266 78267 78270) Mercenaria sp., Mercenaria campechiensis (79709) Mercenaria tridacnoides (60660 60667 78271 78272)
Piacenzian3.6 - 2.58Japan Mercenaria chitaniana (97079) Mercenaria stimpsoni, Mercenaria chitaniana (97077)
Piacenzian3.6 - 2.58Japan (Niigata) Mercenaria sp. (101021)
Piacenzian - Calabrian3.6 - 0.774USA (North Carolina) Mclellania aenigma (61919)
Gelasian2.58 - 1.8USA (North Carolina) Mercenaria carolinensis (71138)
Early/Lower Pleistocene (interglacial)2.58 - 0.774USA (North Carolina) Mercenaria permagna (211182 211183)
Early/Lower Pleistocene2.58 - 0.774USA (South Carolina) Venus rileyi (92408) Venus sp. (92409)
Early/Lower Pleistocene2.58 - 0.774USA (Florida) Mercenaria campechiensis (41501 41718 61309) Mercenaria mercenaria (79331 79786 79787 79788 79789) Mercenaria permagna (79749)
Early/Lower Pleistocene2.58 - 0.774USA (North Carolina) Mercenaria campechiensis (69043 80034) Mercenaria permagna (58897 58898 60986 60987 60988 60989) Mercenaria sp. (80035) Mercenaria sp., Mercenaria berryi (80033) Venus campechiensis (59312 59316 59317 59318)
Pleistocene2.58 - 0.0117USA (New Jersey) Mercenaria campechiensis, Mercenaria mercenaria (66603 66611 66612 66614 66616 66618 66621 66622 66623) Mercenaria mercenaria (66600 66604 66615 66617 66619)
Pleistocene2.58 - 0.0117USA (South Carolina) Mercenaria campechiensis (80053)
Pleistocene2.58 - 0.0117USA (New York) Mercenaria campechiensis (66377) Mercenaria mercenaria (66380 66381)
Pleistocene2.58 - 0.0117USA (Virginia) Mercenaria campechiensis, Mercenaria mercenaria (7108) Mercenaria mercenaria (7109)
Pleistocene2.58 - 0.0117USA (Delaware) Mercenaria mercenaria (66701 66702 66703)
Pleistocene2.58 - 0.0117USA (North Carolina) Venus campechiensis (59313)
Calabrian1.8 - 0.774USA (Florida) Mercenaria campechiensis (41705)
Middle Pleistocene0.774 - 0.129USA (Florida) Mercenaria campechiensis (61310 67069) Mercenaria sp. (80046)
Late/Upper Pleistocene (interglacial)0.129 - 0.0117USA (New York) Mercenaria campechiensis, Mercenaria mercenaria (81751)
Late/Upper Pleistocene0.129 - 0.0117USA (North Carolina) Mercenaria campechiensis, Mercenaria mercenaria (66742 66748 66750) Mercenaria mercenaria (66744 66745 66747 66749 66751 66754 69045 69047)
Late/Upper Pleistocene0.129 - 0.0117USA (Maryland) Mercenaria campechiensis, Mercenaria mercenaria (66721) Mercenaria mercenaria (66706 66707 66720)
Late/Upper Pleistocene (interglacial)0.129 - 0.0117USA (Georgia) Mercenaria mercenaria (20606)
Late/Upper Pleistocene0.129 - 0.0117USA (South Carolina) Mercenaria campechiensis (60927 60928 60929 60930) Mercenaria campechiensis, Mercenaria mercenaria (66756 66758 66760) Mercenaria sp. (69046) Venus mercenaria (92404)
Late/Upper Pleistocene0.129 - 0.0117USA (Florida) Mercenaria campechiensis (61311 79738 79739 96538) Mercenaria mercenaria (79731) Venus campechiensis (41740) Venus campechiensis, Venus mortoni (34269)
Late/Upper Pleistocene0.129 - 0.0117USA (Georgia) Mercenaria mercenaria (66724)
Late/Upper Pleistocene0.129 - 0.0117USA (New York) Venus mercenaria (61270)
Late/Upper Pleistocene0.129 - 0.0117USA (Massachusetts) Mercenaria campechiensis, Venus mercenaria (61268) Mercenaria mercenaria (66359) Venus mercenaria (61267 61269)
Late/Upper Pleistocene0.129 - 0.0117USA (Virginia) Mercenaria campechiensis (57702 57706 69048 69049) Mercenaria campechiensis, Mercenaria mercenaria (57705) Mercenaria mercenaria (57703 80047)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0USA (Maine) Venus mercenaria (176524)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0USA (Massachusetts) Venus mercenaria (122440 176525)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0USA (Louisiana) Mercenaria campechiensis (41934 41935 41936 92772 92775 92776)