Acestes

/əˈsɛstiːz/ noun

Definition

A type of marine clam or bivalve mollusk with a deep shell, typically found in deep ocean waters.

Etymology

From Greek mythology, Acestes was a king of Sicily; the genus was named in his honor by naturalists studying Mediterranean marine life. The term became the scientific name for a genus of deep-sea clams.

Kelly Says

Deep-sea clams like those in the Acestes genus can survive in the crushing pressures of the ocean floor—some live near hydrothermal vents where water is hot enough to cook a steak, yet they thrive there using bacteria that convert chemicals into food!

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