Soft Shell Clam, Mya arenaria? Gaper clams have very large siphons. Strip – Clam strips refer to the loose hanging piece under the belly. It also has a muscular foot which enables the clam to burrow itself in mud or sand. Like all mollusks, a clam has a mantle which surrounds its soft body. Piss clams or pissers (please note PG rating for this one) Longnecks. Both siphons are enclosed in a leathery membrane. adductor muscle •Hold valves shut 4. Sort of like a hybrid of both Atlantic hard and soft-shell clams, Manila clams have a hard shell with a tiny siphon that sticks out the side. mussels have relatively thin shells. Ant. clams have thick strong shells. Hinges •Ligament holds valves together •Interlocking teeth prevent valves from side slipping when opening and closing 5. Clams are marine mollusks with two valves or shells. Sand gapers, also called Soft-shell clams, with extended siphon in natural posiiton buried into the the sand, (Myridae family), Wadden Sea,Germany Clam, Fort Townsend Historical State Park , Washington. clams live individually, while mussels often live in large groups, but probably because the … Can you name the parts of the . Inner surface of left valve 2. Teeth along ventral margin •Prevent valves from sliding when closes 6. A Giant clam (Tridacna gigas) grows on a reef in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. Coquina clams are very active; they migrate up and down wave-washed beaches with the tide and can reburrow between each wave. Post. The soft tissue above the foot is called the visceral mass and contains the clam's … Neck (Siphon) The neck is actually the chewy and kinda gross part that protrudes outside of the clam. When closed, the shells gape and two siphons protrude from the posterior end. Internal Clam Shell Anatomy 1. Belly – The belly (the most tender part of the clam) is the soft, round center of the clam. Coquina clams are edible and are used in broths and chowder. clams live in sandy areas, and borough in the sand. Softshell clams should be plump, and their siphons should be snugly tucked inside their shells. They have short siphons and feed on suspended plant material and detritus. The siphon and mantle of a Giant clam on a reef in Palau. https://www.marthastewart.com/1503929/buyers-guide-clams-varieties Having such large siphons enable gapers to live very deep in the substrate, thereby avoiding many clam predators. Fun Fact - an adult soft shell clam can filter up to four liters (1.06 gallons) of water per hour. adductor muscle 3. As seen in the picture to the left, a softshell (upper clam) is compared to a gaper (lower clam) which have evolved to not close completely, thus leaving a gape to accommodate the siphon. mussels live above the bottom, attached to something solid.