Clam Clam

Clam - Definition and Overview
Related Words: Chordata, Ectoprocta, Entoprocta, Monoplacophora, Nemertinea, Spartan, Angle, Bob, Crab, Crawdad, Crawfish, Crayfish, Dib, Dibble, Drive, Fish, Gig

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Clam

Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Mollusca
Class:Bivalvia
Order:Veneroida
Family:Orbiculidae
Genus:?
Species:C. fluminea
Binomial name
Clam?


Clams are shelled marine or freshwater mollusks. Clams are bivalve, meaning their shells consist of two halves.

Contents
1 Characteristics
2 Types of clams
3 See Also
4 External Links

Characteristics

Clams can be hard-shelled or soft-shelled. The digestible portion of the clam consists of muscles, which allows it to open and close its shell. For example, the siphon is used to take in water. Moreover, the foot is used to thrust itself through the sand.

Giant clam (Tridacna gigas)

Types of clams

  • The hard clam – Mercenaria mercenaria; quahog
  • The soft clam – Mya arenaria
  • The surf clam – Spisula solidissima
  • The ocean quahog – Arctica islandica
  • The Pacific razor clam – Siliqua patula
  • The giant clam – Tridacna gigas
  • Asian or Asiatic clam – Corbicula species

See Also

mussel

Clam is also the name of a commune in the Charente-Maritime département, in France.

External Links

  • Bivalves (http://www.assateague.com/nt-bival.html)

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