wildsingapore homepage
wildsingapore homepage
sitemap to the online guide
search | glossary


rocky shore index
  Online Guide to Chek Jawa
rocky shore
 
Venus clams
Family Veneridae

Venus and other clams are common on the rocky shore. They are usually buried just beneath the surface. The tiny ridges on their shells to help them stay buried. They have thick, hard shells but are still preyed upon by moon snails, drills, crabs, sea stars and shorebirds.

Clam Food: Like many other bivalves, clams are filter feeders. They lie buried in the sand and extend their siphons to the surface at high tide. They use their siphons to suck in water and filter out microscopic food. The water also brings fresh oxygen to the animal.

Human uses: Many of the commercially important clams are Venus clams. Some are also used as fish bait. Clams are among the favourite seafood of people everywhere. However, clams may be affected by red tide and other harmful algal blooms. Such clams can then be harmful to eat. 		  click for enlarged image

click for enlarged image
quick facts
3-4cm, common under stones on the rocky shore.

Classification:
Class Bivalvia
Phylum Mollusca
 
See also ...
Molluscs in general
Bivalves in general and about red tide

Links
Family Veneridae (Venus Clams) on The Gladys Archerd Shell Collection at Washington State University Tri-Cities Natural History Museum website: brief fact sheet on venerid clams with photos and a diagram of how they filter feed.
Clams Fishery on the Fisheries and Ocean Canada website: rather technical details on the commercially important Venerid clams in Canada.
Clam (Venus mercenaria) on the University of Buffalo website: has photos of cross-sections, internal details of a Venerid clam.
Bivalve Biology and Physiology by Brian L. Kegel at The Evergreen State College website: a rather technical introduction to the biology of bivalves, including lots of photos.

Other references
  • Fiene-Severns, Pauline, Mike Severns and Ruth Dyerly, 2000. Periplus Nature Guides: Tropical Seashells. Periplus Editions. 64pp.
  • Ng, Peter K. L. & N. Sivasothi, 1999. A Guide to the Mangroves of Singapore II (Animal Diversity). Singapore Science Centre. 168 pp. online version
  • Tan, K. S. & L. M. Chou, 2000. A Guide to the Common Seashells of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre. 160 pp.
 

a companion website to the chek jawa guidebook
website©ria tan 2003 www.wildsingapore.com