Asian Clam

(Corbicula fluminea)

Classification

  • Kingdom: Animalia

  • Phylum: Mollusca

  • Class: Bivalvia

  • Order: Veneroida

  • Family: Corbiculidae

  • Genus: Corbicula

  • Species: Corbicula fluminea

Common Names

  • Asian Clam

  • Golden Clam

Identification

  • Appearance: Small, rounded, and slightly asymmetrical shell.

  • Size: Typically 2 to 5 cm in shell length, though some individuals may grow larger.

  • Color: Shells are usually light yellow to brown, often with concentric rings. The interior is usually white or light purple.

Habitat

  • Distribution: Native to temperate and tropical regions of Asia, but has become invasive in North America, Europe, and South America.

  • Natural Habitat: Found in a wide range of freshwater environments from rivers to lakes and streams, preferring sandy or muddy substrates.

Ecological Role

  • Diet: Filter-feeder, consuming phytoplankton, detritus, and bacteria. Its feeding helps clarify water but can also compete with native species for food.

  • Impact on Ecosystem: As an invasive species, it can alter native biodiversity, compete with native mollusks, and impact local fisheries. Its dense populations can clog water intake structures and affect municipal and industrial water systems.

Behavior

  • Reproduction: Highly prolific, reproducing asexually and sexually. Females release hundreds to thousands of juveniles several times a year, allowing rapid population growth.

  • Activity Patterns: Mostly sessile, staying buried in the substrate with only the siphons exposed for feeding and respiration.

Conservation and Management

  • Status: Not considered endangered; however, it is often targeted for control measures in non-native regions due to its invasive status.

  • Management Practices: Includes mechanical removal, restriction of water transfers between bodies of water, and public education on preventing the spread of invasive species.

Research

  • Ongoing studies focus on the ecological impacts of Corbicula fluminea in invaded ecosystems, methods for controlling its spread, and its potential use in bioremediation due to its high filtering capacity.