Howdy y'all! So last month I took a trip to Southern California as a reward for completing an experiment that pretty much consumed my entire summer. It was exhausting, frustrating, and it really stressed me out. But that's science I guess. Everything can't work the way you want it. Anyways, I was sitting on the beach just watching these little clams burrow into the sand and spit out their gills when the waves were approaching. I dug up a few, and recorded them in action. It took about 5 minutes for them to realize they were not in danger and to pursue on. Soooo, the video is sped up and a little shaky. I was cold, geez.
Enjoy!
These little guys are tiny saltwater clams, commonly referred to as Coquinas. They are marine bivalves belonging to the Phylum : Mollusca. Their basic anatomy consists of two (bi) shells or valves to protect their inner body parts, gills which are used for gas exchange and filter feeding, and a foot used for locomotion. The valves typically remain closed unless the animal is feeding or motile. These little dudes use their mucus covered foot to burrow into the sediment for stability and protection. When feeding they suspend their gills into the water to capture phytoplankton, algae, or tiny planktonic organisms in the water. These particles of food are then transported to the mouth and stomach. You've probably noticed a filamentous structure attached inside the shells of dead clams. Those are the gills.
Coquinas are typically found on the shore of most warm beaches.
