Astarte is another bivalve name equivalent to Venus, though based on the
Phonecian goddess.
 
Does anyone know why Linnaeus sullied the reputation of Venus meretrix (now
Meretrix meretrix)?   As meretrix is Latin for a professional follower of
Venus, this seems like an odd name for a clam.  Since longer wavelengths of
light do not penetrate far into the ocean, one could joke about
shallow-water species living in the red light district, but that does not
single out this species, nor would it have made much sense in Linnaeus'
day.