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| bivalves text index | photo index |
| Phylum Mollusca > Class Bivalvia |
| Razor
clams Family Solenidae updated Oct 10
Where seen? These almost cylindrical clams can move surprisingly quickly and are rarely seen as they are usually buried in the sand. They are sometimes seen above ground on the undisturbed sandy shores near seagrass areas on our northern shores. They are adapted for burrowing deeply in soft bottoms. Built for digging: 1.5-5cm long. The razor clam is a strong and quick burrower. The somewhat rectangular and cylindrical two-part shell is thin, narrow and smooth, allowing the animal to slip easily through the sand. On one end of the shell emerges a strong foot that it uses to burrow quickly into wet sand. On the other end a long siphon sticks out to the surface to breathe and feed. The siphon breaks easily when the animal is disturbed. In this way, the animal probably avoids being dragged out of the sand by its siphon. What do they eat? Like other bivalves, razor clams are filter feeders. The buried clam sticks its long siphon out to the surface. When submerged, it sucks in a current of water through the siphon. It uses its enlarged gills to sieve food particles out of this current. |
 Razor clam (Solen brevisiima) Chek Jawa, Jan 04  The long siphon breaks apart easily |
On one end is the long siphon, and the other a strong
muscular foot.
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Razor clams on Singapore shores
 Pasir Ris, Dec 11 |
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 Changi, Aug 05 |
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 Tanah Merah, May 09 |
 Siphon of a large buried razor clam? |
 Pulau Sekudu, Apr 06 |
 Chek Jawa, Apr 12 |
| Family
Solenidae recorded for Singapore from Tan Siong Kiat and Henrietta P. M. Woo, 2010 Preliminary Checklist of The Molluscs of Singapore.
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References
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