Soft-shell clam
Soft-shell clam or Sand Gaper Temporal range:
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Bivalvia |
Order: | Myida |
Superfamily: | Myoidea
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Family: | Myidae |
Genus: | Mya |
Species: | M. arenaria
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Binomial name | |
Mya arenaria |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Mya_arenaria_%28strandgaperbroed-op-balgzand-8326-sd%29.jpg/220px-Mya_arenaria_%28strandgaperbroed-op-balgzand-8326-sd%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/Ecomare_-_strandgaper_%284792-mya-strandgaper-mok-ogb%29.jpg/220px-Ecomare_-_strandgaper_%284792-mya-strandgaper-mok-ogb%29.jpg)
Soft-shell clams (American English) or Sand gaper (British English/Europe),
Habitat and distribution
These clams live buried in the sediment on tidal flats. While they are common in muddy areas, their name "arenaria" means sandy and they prefer a combination of sandy and muddy areas. They are well known as a food item on the coast of New England in the Western Atlantic Ocean; however, the range extends much farther north to Canada and south to the Southern states. They are also found in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean, for example in the UK, as well as in the North Sea's Wadden Sea (where they are the dominant large clam).
This species has become
Physiology
Mya arenaria has a
This clam is found living approximately 3–8 in (7.6–20.3 cm) under the surface of the mud. It extends its paired
Predators
As well as being eaten by humans, the soft-shelled clam is relished by
Cooking
Soft-shell clams are edible and can be used in a variety of dishes. Before cooking, it is generally recommended that clams be stored in saltwater for a few hours to facilitate the expulsion of sand from their digestive tracts. Some recommend that cornmeal be added to the water to give the clams something to filter from it.
Soft-shell clams can be eaten steamed,
References
Scientific literature
- Gallant, D., A. Poulin, & E. Tremblay (2006). Évaluation statistique et optimisation du programme de monitoring de la mye commune (Mya arenaria) au parc national du Canada Kouchibouguac. Parcs Canada – Rapports techniques en matière de sciences des écosystèmes, 045, ix + 67p. (in French with English abstract; ISBN 0-662-71418-0, ISSN 1200-3298)