Isorropodon is a genus of small deep-sea bivalve molluscs in the family Vesicomyidae and subfamily Pliocardiinae. The genus was first described by Austrian naturalist Rudolf Sturany in 1896, and is known for its small size relative to other vesicomyids, as well as its unique biological adaptation to chemosynthetic environments.
Ecology and biology In contrast to most filter-feeding surface bivalves, the genus Isorropodon is chemosymbiotic. There is only one bacterial symbiont phylotype found inside the gills of the genus, enabling it to use chemical energy produced by chemosynthesis through hydrogen sulfide or methane.
Isorropodon species are only found in deep-sea habitats including cold seeps, hydrocarbon-rich mud volcanoes, seamounts and areas with submerged deep-sea plant debris. They are usually under 16mm and their geographical range spans from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean and north into the Arctic basin.
Description The shell structure of Isorropodon is usually small, fragile, thin, and smooth. The shell shape is usually elliptical or subovate.
Species According to the World Register of Marine Species the genus Isorropodon currently contains the following recognized species.
Isorropodon arguinensis L. Hoffmann, Cosel & Freiwald, 2019 Isorropodon bigoti Cosel & C. Salas, 2001 Isorropodon curtus Cosel & C. Salas, 2001 Isorropodon elongatus J. A. Allen, 2001 Isorropodon kaikoae Okutani, Fujikura & Kojima, 2000 Isorropodon mackayi P. G. Oliver & Drewery, 2014 Isorropodon megadesmus P. G. Oliver, Rodrigues & M. Cunha, 2011 Isorropodon nyeggaensis Krylova, 2011 Isorropodon perplexus Sturany, 1896 (Type species) Isorropodon smithii Dall, 1889 Isorropodon striatus Jaeckel & Thiele, 1931 Isorropodon tenina J. A. Allen, 2001
The genus also contains two extinct species.
Isorropodon frankfortensis Amano & Kiel, 2007 Isorropodon humptulipsensis Kiel, Amano & Goedert, 2023
References
External links
Genus Isorropodon page at WoRMS