Mya arenaria

The Soft-shelled Clam

Phylum Mollusca
Class Bivalvia
Subclass Lamellibranchia
Order Myoida
Family Myidae
Genus Mya
Species arenaria

Description: 10 to 15 cm long, 8 to 19 wide; chalky white to pale gray; shell oval, thin, and rounded in front, pointed at rear with rough growth lines; valves are same size and have a gape at both sides.

Habitat: Found in areas of low salinity and an influx of fresh water, buried 20 cm or so in mixtures of mud with sand or gravel.

Natural History: It extends its double-holed siphon to the surface where it filters organic particles from the water. The shell is thin and fragile, and is often broken when digging. This clam was a dependable resource for Native Americans on the East Coast. It was introduced into the Puget Sound from the Atlantic Ocean about fifty years ago.