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Clams
Palourdes
Appears in
Published 2010
Scientific name: Family Veneridae
Clams in the Veneridae family make up the better part of the edible bivalve mollusks that burrow in sediment. This distinguishes them from mollusks like mussels that attach themselves to rocks (or pilings if cultivated). Clam can be used as a general term for all bivalve mollusks but in cuisine and fisheries it refers mainly to the edible burrowing varieties.
The shell of a clam consists of two, usually equal, valves connected by a hinge joint and ligament. These can be internal or external. The clam has two abductor muscles that contract to close the shell. The clam has no head or eyes (scallops are an exception), but has kidneys, a heart, a mouth, and an anus. They also have an open circulatory system, meaning that their organs are surrounded by watery blood containing oxygen and nutrients. Many edible bivalves have an oval shape, though the razor clam has an elongated, parallel-sided shape, reminiscent of an old-fashioned straight razor.