Clam Dissection

Clam Dissection 

-Clams are found in marine and freshwater habitats. Most clam species live in mostly shallow waters that are sandy or muddy, yet some species live in extremely deep waters in the Pacific Ocean.

                                                                                   

-Clams pump water in and out of their bodies in order to catch organisms such as plankton, zooplankton, algae, and copepods. They get most of their nutrition from organisms that float near the bottom of the water they live in.

-Clams breathe through their cilia-covered gills. Their gills remove oxygen from the water as well as filter food into the body.

-Clams cannot see, smell, or hear. They do not contain the organs that provide the functions for sight, a sense of smell, or the ability to hear.

 Sources-

http://www.molluscs.at/bivalvia/

http://animals.howstuffworks.com/marine-life/clam-info.htm

Dissection

Major internal/external anatomy-

Growth ring- used to determine it’s age

Major internal/external anatomy-

Umbo- the oldest part of the clam

 

Ligament- used to hinge the two halves together

Major internal/external anatomy-

anterior/posterior adductor- holds the two halves of the clam together

 

gills- used to respiration and gas exchange

 

mantle- secretes the shell

 

foot- used for movement

Anatomy Sources-

http://www.chesterfield.k12.sc.us/cheraw%20intermediate/DaveEvans/BiologyICP/Clam-Mussel%20Dissection.pdf

http://www.biologyjunction.com/clam%20dissection.pdf

http://www.biologyjunction.com/clam_dissection.htm