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| bivalves text index | photo index |
| Phylum Mollusca > Class Bivalvia |
| Jingle
clams Family Anomiidae updated Oct 08
Where seen? Like slivers of mother-of-pearl, the lustrous shells of dead jingle clams are often washed ashore. Intrigued beach-comers might wonder what made these delicate treasures. The living animals are commonly found under stones, while some species settle on mangrove tree trunks and leaves. Window pane clams have enormous translucent shells. They are sometimes seen in undisturbed seagrass meadows. What are jingle clams? Jingle clams belong to Family Anomiidae. A handful of these delicate shells makes a jingling sound, which is probably how their common name came about. Features: 3-6cm in diameter. The animal has a two-part shell although those stuck to rocks and hard surfaces may appear to only have one valve. The lustrous shells are paper thin and translucent. It seems difficult to imagine how something so delicate can protect an animal. Sometimes confused with limpets which are gastropods and can move about. Slipper snails (Crepidula sp.) also appear similar. Here's more on how to tell apart limpets, slipper snails and similar animals. What do they eat? Like other bivalves, jingle clams are filter feeders. When submerged, a jingle clam opens its valves a little. They then generate a current of water through the shell and sieve out the food particles with enlarged gills. When exposed at low tide, the valves are clamped tightly shut to prevent water loss. Human uses: The shells of these animals are used as raw materials to make glue, chalk, shellac, soldering lead and paint. Large shells of the window-pane clam (Placuna sp.) are made into handicrafts such as chandeliers and wind chimes. The animal itself apparently doesn't taste very good. Status and threats: Like other creatures of the intertidal zone, they are affected by human activities such as reclamation and pollution. Trampling by careless visitors can also affect local populations. |
 Mangrove jingle clam Lim Chu Kang, Jan 04  In this shell of a dead Monia jingle clam, you can see the notch in the valve that was stuck to the rock Pulau Sekudu, Jun 06  The large Window-pane clam lies unattached Tanah Merah, Apr 05 |
Some jingle clam species are found on mangrove leaves.
| Family
Anomiidae recorded for Singapore from Wee Y.C. and Peter K. L. Ng. 1994. A First Look at Biodiversity in Singapore. *from Tan, K. S. & L. M. Chou, 2000. A Guide to the Common Seashells of Singapore. in red are those listed among the threatened animals of Singapore from Ng, P. K. L. & Y. C. Wee, 1994. The Singapore Red Data Book: Threatened Plants and Animals of Singapore.
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Links
References
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The Nature Society (Singapore), Singapore. 343 pp.|
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