Donax (bivalve)

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Donax is a genus of small, edible saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs with highly variable color patterns. The genus is sometimes known as bean clams or wedge shells; however, Donax species have different common names in different parts of the world. In the southeastern U.S. they are known as "coquina", a word that is also used for the hard limestone concretions of their shells and those of other marine organisms. They are called "Chip Chip" in Trinidad & Tobago and "Chipi Chipi" in Venezuela, "Stumpfmuschel" in German, and "Zaaje" in Dutch.[1] In South Vanuatu Languages they are called "Kaiwi" or "Tumbar".[2]

Donax
A group of shells of Donax variabilis showing color variation
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Cardiida
Family: Donacidae
Genus: Donax
Linnaeus, 1758
Species

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Synonyms
  • Capsella Gray, 1851
  • Grammatodonax Dall, 1900

Ecology

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Species of Donax live in the swash zone, sometimes in high concentrations, vertically aligned in the sand on exposed beaches, on tropical and temperate coasts worldwide. When the waves wash these small clams out of the sand, they can dig back in again quite rapidly. They are phytoplankton filter feeders. They are an import source of food for crabs, fish and shorebirds. They are sensitive to environmental conditions and are considered an indicator of beach habitat health.[3] Some species, such as Donax variabilis, migrate vertically and horizontally with changes in the tides. The genus enjoys a global distribution.[1] These coquina clams are found extensively on the east coast beaches of Trinidad (Mayaro) and widely available in Venezuela.

Human use

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Donax is an edible mollusk that has been consumed since pre-historic times and is still consumed today. Numerous recipes for coquina soup have been published. Recreational foragers should follow seafood safety guidelines and shellfish harvesting restrictions, and should be aware of any harmful algal blooms that may contaminate shellfish with biotoxins. In some parts of the world Donax clams are still gathered by indigenous people as an important subsistence food.[4]

Species

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Donax cuneatus shell

Species within the genus Donax include:

The empty small (15 to 25 mm) shells of Donax variabilis and Donax fossor may be found washed up on the beach, especially at low tide. The living animals can often be seen where the waves wash the sand around in the shallowest part of the littoral zone as the tidal level changes. These clams can use the action of waves to move themselves up and down the beach, quickly burrowing into a new location before they can be swept away (the so-called "dance of the coquina").

References

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  1. ^ a b "Donax Linnaeus, 1758". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  2. ^ Secretariat of the Pacific Community (2003). Vanuatu Country Report: Profiles and Results From Survey Work at Paunangisu Village, Moso Island, Uri and Uripiv Islands and the Maskelyne Archipelago (PDF). ISBN 978-982-00-0265-4.
  3. ^ "Coquina Clams". Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  4. ^ Sordo, Laura; Vasconcelos, Paulo; Piló, David; Carvalho, André N.; Pereira, Fábio; Gaspar, Miguel B. (September 2023). "Recreational harvesting of the wedge clam (Donax trunculus) in southern Portugal: Characterization of the activity based on harvesters' perception and local ecological knowledge". Marine Policy. 155: 105694. doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2023.105694. hdl:10400.1/20089. ISSN 0308-597X.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af eol Encyclopedia of Life

Further reading

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