Venus verrucosa
Introduction '''''Venus verrucosa''''', the '''warty venus''', is a species of saltwater clam. It is a species of marine bivalve mollusc in the family Veneridae, sometimes collectively known as the venus clams.
Distribution This species is found around the European coast and also the southern African coast, from the Namibian coast to Mozambique, subtidally to 155 m.
Description A fossilized shell of ''V. verrucosa''This animal grows up to 60 mm in diameter. It has a bulky, oval shell with well-defined concentric ridges. The shell edges are knobbly and crossed.
Economic import and gastronomy Known as ''praire'' in France, it is an expensive delicacy there, and harvesting periods and size of catch (both minimum shell size and numbers taken) have had to be strictly regulated for its conservation. It is eaten either raw or baked in the oven with garlic butter.
Ecology The warty venus burrows in mud and sand.
References
External links * http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=141936