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 Edible clams in the family Veneridae
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A clam is one of numerous kinds of bivalve mollusks.
The word has no real taxonomic significance in biology, however in the United States the word "clam" can be used to mean almost any bivalve mollusk other than an oyster, mussel, or scallop, especially edible species.
The word is also frequently used in the US for bivalves that have a more-and-less oval shape, and is even applied to freshwater mussels.[1]
In the US, the word clam is also often used more specifically to mean any one of many edible marine bivalve species that live buried in mud or sand, and that respire by means of siphons which reach to the surface, hence, "digging for clams" or clam digging.
Not all edible clams are round or oval in shape. The razor clam has an elongated shell whose shape suggests a straight razor.
In October 2007 an Arctica islandica clam caught off the coast of Iceland was discovered to be at least 405 years old, and was declared the world's oldest living animal by researchers from Bangor University, see Ming (clam).
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Anatomy
A clam's shell consists of two valves which are connected by a hinge joint and a ligament that can be external or internal. Two adductor muscles close the shells. The clam has no head, and usually has no eyes, (scallops are a notable exception), but a clam does have kidneys, a heart, a mouth, and an anus. Clams have bilateral symmetry.
Clams, like most mollusks, also have open circulatory systems, which means that their organs are surrounded by watery blood that contains nutrients and oxygen. Clams eat plankton by filter feeding, and they themselves are eaten by small sharks and squid.
Human use
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| mollusks |
| abalone |
| clams |
| cockles |
| periwinkles |
| mussels |
| oysters |
| scallops |
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| cephalopods |
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| fishing industry |
| fisheries |
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| I N D E X |
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In culinary use, in the USA, the term "clam" most often refers to the hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria and may also refer to several other species such as the soft-shell clam, Mya arenaria.
Clams can be eaten raw, steamed, boiled, baked or fried; the method of preparation depends partly on size and species.
Clam chowder is a popular soup in the U.S. and Canada.
In Italy, clams are often an ingredient of mixed seafood dishes, or are eaten together with pasta.
The Maxima clam Tridacna maxima, a species of giant clam, is a popular species with saltwater aquarium hobbyists.
The Moche people of ancient Peru worshiped the sea and its animals. They often depicted clams in their art.[2]
Some examples of clams
- Ark clams, family Arcidae
- Nut clams or pointed nut clams, family Nuculidae
- Duck clams or trough shells, family Mactridae
- Marsh clams, family Corbiculidae
- File clams, family Limidae
- Hard clam or Northern Quahog: Mercenaria mercenaria
- Soft clam: Mya arenaria
- Surf clam: Spisula solidissima
- Ocean quahog: Arctica islandica
- Pacific razor clam: Siliqua patula
- Giant clam: Tridacna gigas
- Asian or Asiatic clam: genus Corbicula
- Peppery furrow shell: Scrobicularia plana
- Pismo clam: Tivela stultorum (8 inch shell on display in the Pismo Beach Chamber of Commerce)
- Geoduck clam: Panopea abrupta or Panope generosa (largest burrowing clam in the world)
- Atlantic jackknife clam: Ensis directus
See also
References
- ^ "Merriam-Webster Dictionary".
- ^ Berrin, Katherine & Larco Museum. The Spirit of Ancient Peru:Treasures from the Museo Arqueológico Rafael Larco Herrera. New York: Thames and Hudson, 1997.
External links
- Nutrition Facts for Clams
- Deep In The Ocean A Clam That Acts Like A Plant Science Daily March 2, 2007
- How to Shuck Hard Shell Clams
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 6 September 2008, at 02:33.
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