Anadara ovalis
Anadara ovalis, or the blood ark clam, is a clam in the family Arcidae. It can be found along the Atlantic coast of North America, ranging from Massachusetts to the West Indies and Brazil.[1] It resides from the low-tide line to a depth of ten feet.
| Anadara ovalis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Bivalvia |
| Order: | Arcida |
| Family: | Arcidae |
| Genus: | Anadara |
| Species: | A. ovalis |
| Binomial name | |
| Anadara ovalis (Bruguiere, 1789) | |
The blood ark clam is often noted for its appearance, for it usually can be found two-thirds covered by dark brown, fur-like periostracum. It also noted for its red blood, which is a result of it containing hemoglobin; this makes it different from the majority of mollusks and earned it its name. The size of it typically is between one and three inches.
References
- Abbott, R.T. & Morris, P.A. A Field Guide to Shells: Atlantic and Gulf Coasts and the West Indies. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1995. 11.
Sources
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