science education resource

Clams

To view these resources with no ads, please Login or Subscribe to help support our content development.

School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Clams

Range

Clams are found in temperate oceans throughout the world.

Habitat

They are found in both salt (marine) and freshwater habitats.

Body Traits

They have two shells connected by a hinge – called the ligament and kept closed by powerful  muscles. The shells can open and close when needed, but are usually held closed by powerful muscles to protect them from predators.  All use their muscular foot to meet their different lifestyle needs. They have no head, but a diffuse nerve network made up of three nerve centers (or ganglia) distributed around their visceral mass.

Habits

Clams burrow into the sandy bottom. Scallops burrow or swim freely, using their shell to “clap” water propelling them as needed. Mussels use their foot to anchor to rocks and other objects. They have gills that are bathed with fresh water (and oxygen) through posterior siphons.

Diet

Unlike many mollusks that feed using a rasping tongue, called a radula, bivalves feed by filtering food particles from the water. They do this by siphoning water over the gills which traps it and propels it toward the mouth.

To view these resources with no ads, please Login or Subscribe to help support our content development.

School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Clams

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Veneroida
Family: Veneridae
Genus: Mercenaria
Species: M. mercenaria

Citing Research References

When you research information you must cite the reference. Citing for websites is different from citing from books, magazines and periodicals. The style of citing shown here is from the MLA Style Citations (Modern Language Association).

When citing a WEBSITE the general format is as follows.
Author Last Name, First Name(s). "Title: Subtitle of Part of Web Page, if appropriate." Title: Subtitle: Section of Page if appropriate. Sponsoring/Publishing Agency, If Given. Additional significant descriptive information. Date of Electronic Publication or other Date, such as Last Updated. Day Month Year of access < URL >.

Here is an example of citing this page:

Amsel, Sheri. "Clams" Exploring Nature Educational Resource ©2005-2024. March 26, 2024
< http://www.exploringnature.org/db/view/560 >

Exploringnature.org has more than 2,000 illustrated animals. Read about them, color them, label them, learn to draw them.