Soft-shell clams (American English) or sand gaper (British English/Europe), scientific nameMya arenaria, popularly called "steamers", "softshells", "piss clams", "Ipswich clams", or "Essex clams", are a species of edible saltwater clam, a marinebivalvemollusk in the family Myidae.
These clams live buried in the sediment on tidalflats. 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 invasive on the Pacific Coast of North America, including Alaska, Canada and the continental United States.[1] However M. arenaria originated in the Pacific Ocean during the Miocene. It extended its range in the early Pliocene to the Atlantic, including European waters. The Pacific and European populations became extinct some time in the early Pleistocene, leaving only the Northwest Atlantic population, which subsequently spread via humans to its current distribution.[2][3] It also occurs in the Mediterranean Sea.[4]
Physiology
Mya arenaria has a calcium carbonateshell that is thin and easily broken, hence the name "soft-shells" (as opposed to its beach-dwelling neighbors in some regions, the thick-shelled quahog).
This clam is found living approximately 3–8 in (7.6–20.3 cm) under the surface of the mud. It extends its paired siphons up to the surface; these draw in seawater, filter it for food, and expel it. The holes in the mud through which the water is drawn in and out can often be seen at low tide. Water may be visibly ejected from the siphon tips when pressure is applied to the surrounding mud. This makes the clams easier to locate when humans are clam digging.
As well as being eaten by humans, the soft-shelled clam is relished by sea otters in the eastern Pacific Ocean,[citation needed] where the clam is an invasive species. In New England the soft-shell clam is preyed heavily upon by northern moon snails and invasive green crabs. They are also a favorite of sea gulls, which pull the clam from the sand, climb to about 15–20 ft (5–6 m), and then drop the clam on a hard surface, breaking the shell. They then dive down quickly to eat the soft parts of the clam before others can get to it.
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, fried, or in clam chowder. "Steamers" (steamed soft-shell clams) are an integral part of the New England clam bake, where they are served steamed whole in the shell, then pulled from the shell at the table, the neck skin is removed and then while holding the clam by the neck it is dipped, first in the clam broth in which they were cooked, to rinse away remaining sand, and then very briefly in melted butter.
References
^Powers, Sean; Bishop, Mary Anne; Grabowski, Jonathan & Peterson, Charles (April 2006), "Distribution of the invasive bivalve Mya arenaria L. on intertidal flats of southcentral Alaska", Journal of Sea Research, Elsevier B.V., vol. 55, no. 3, pp. 207–216, Bibcode:2006JSR....55..207P, doi:10.1016/j.seares.2005.10.004
^Strasser, M (1999), "Mya arenaria — an ancient invader of the North Sea coast", Helgolaender Meeresuntersuchungen, vol. 52, no. 3–4, pp. 309–324, doi:10.1007/BF02908905
^Petersen, KS; Rasmussen, KL; Heinemeler, J; Rud, N (1992), "Clams before Columbus?", Nature, vol. 359, no. 6397, p. 679, Bibcode:1992Natur.359..679P, doi:10.1038/359679a0, S2CID 4358254
^Crocetta & Turolla (2011), "Mya arenaria Linné, 1758 (Mollusca: Bivalvia) in the Mediterranean: its distribution revisited", Journal of Biological Research, vol. 16, pp. 188–193
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; ISBN0-662-71418-0, ISSN 1200-3298)
January 08, 2023
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Soft shell clams American English or sand gaper British English Europe scientific name Mya arenaria popularly called steamers softshells piss clams Ipswich clams or Essex clams are a species of edible saltwater clam a marine bivalve mollusk in the family Myidae Soft shell clam or Sand GaperTemporal range Oligocene Present PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg NScientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum MolluscaClass BivalviaOrder MyidaSuperfamily MyoideaFamily MyidaeGenus MyaSpecies M arenariaBinomial nameMya arenariaLinnaeus 1758 Contents 1 Habitat and distribution 2 Physiology 3 Predators 4 Cooking 5 References 6 Scientific literatureHabitat and distribution EditThese 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 invasive on the Pacific Coast of North America including Alaska Canada and the continental United States 1 However M arenaria originated in the Pacific Ocean during the Miocene It extended its range in the early Pliocene to the Atlantic including European waters The Pacific and European populations became extinct some time in the early Pleistocene leaving only the Northwest Atlantic population which subsequently spread via humans to its current distribution 2 3 It also occurs in the Mediterranean Sea 4 Physiology EditMya arenaria has a calcium carbonate shell that is thin and easily broken hence the name soft shells as opposed to its beach dwelling neighbors in some regions the thick shelled quahog This clam is found living approximately 3 8 in 7 6 20 3 cm under the surface of the mud It extends its paired siphons up to the surface these draw in seawater filter it for food and expel it The holes in the mud through which the water is drawn in and out can often be seen at low tide Water may be visibly ejected from the siphon tips when pressure is applied to the surrounding mud This makes the clams easier to locate when humans are clam digging Predators Edit A sea otter at Moss Landing California eating what appear to be Mya arenaria As well as being eaten by humans the soft shelled clam is relished by sea otters in the eastern Pacific Ocean citation needed where the clam is an invasive species In New England the soft shell clam is preyed heavily upon by northern moon snails and invasive green crabs They are also a favorite of sea gulls which pull the clam from the sand climb to about 15 20 ft 5 6 m and then drop the clam on a hard surface breaking the shell They then dive down quickly to eat the soft parts of the clam before others can get to it Cooking EditSoft 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 fried or in clam chowder Steamers steamed soft shell clams are an integral part of the New England clam bake where they are served steamed whole in the shell then pulled from the shell at the table the neck skin is removed and then while holding the clam by the neck it is dipped first in the clam broth in which they were cooked to rinse away remaining sand and then very briefly in melted butter References Edit Powers Sean Bishop Mary Anne Grabowski Jonathan amp Peterson Charles April 2006 Distribution of the invasive bivalve Mya arenaria L on intertidal flats of southcentral Alaska Journal of Sea Research Elsevier B V vol 55 no 3 pp 207 216 Bibcode 2006JSR 55 207P doi 10 1016 j seares 2005 10 004 Strasser M 1999 Mya arenaria an ancient invader of the North Sea coast Helgolaender Meeresuntersuchungen vol 52 no 3 4 pp 309 324 doi 10 1007 BF02908905 Petersen KS Rasmussen KL Heinemeler J Rud N 1992 Clams before Columbus Nature vol 359 no 6397 p 679 Bibcode 1992Natur 359 679P doi 10 1038 359679a0 S2CID 4358254 Crocetta amp Turolla 2011 Mya arenaria Linne 1758 Mollusca Bivalvia in the Mediterranean its distribution revisited Journal of Biological Research vol 16 pp 188 193Scientific literature EditGallant D A Poulin amp E Tremblay 2006 Evaluation statistique et optimisation du programme de monitoring de la mye commune Mya arenaria au parc national du Canada Kouchibouguac Parcs Canada Rapports techniques en matiere de sciences des ecosystemes 045 ix 67p in French with English abstract ISBN 0 662 71418 0 ISSN 1200 3298 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Soft shell clam amp oldid 1130929370, wikipedia, wiki, 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