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

  1. 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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