Nov 11, 2024 · Clams and mussels taste different, they look different, and they’re often prepared in different ways. Mussels show up in the beloved French dish moules mariniėre but aren’t typically called for in chowder like clams are.

Mussel (/ ˈmʌsəl /) is the common name used for members of several families of bivalve molluscs, from saltwater and freshwater habitats. These groups have in common a shell whose outline is elongated and asymmetrical compared with other edible clams, which are often more or less rounded or oval.

The adductor muscles are the main muscular system in bivalve mollusks (e.g. in clams, scallops, mussels, oysters, etc.). In many parts of the world, when people eat scallops, the adductor muscles are the only part of the animal which is eaten. Adductor muscles leave noticeable scars or marks on the interior of the shell's valves.

The foot in clams is a fundamental muscular structure that plays several important roles. It is a soft, extended muscle mass found at the base of the clam's soft body, the reason it is known as a foot. It extends from the underside of the mantle and is composed of highly flexible muscle tissue.

Feb 17, 2025 · So, what part of the clam do we actually eat? The answer is the adductor muscle, also known as the “belly” or “meat” of the clam. The adductor muscle is a powerful muscle that the clam uses to close its shell. It is located inside the shell, attached to the mantle and the shell itself.

Mussels and clams have different textures when cooked, with mussels being softer and more tender, while clams are chewier and firmer. However, if not cooked properly, both can become rubbery and tough, which can affect the overall enjoyment of the dish.

Aug 17, 2018 · The clam, cockle, mussel, scallop, and even the oyster, are all marine bivalve molluscs. Bivalve means two valves. They all have a shell structure, called a mantle, with two valves (two halves) and a ligament hinge with two adductor muscles that enable them to …

A clam has a mantle which surrounds its soft body. A muscular foot which enables the clam to burrow itself in mud or sand. The soft tissue above the foot is called the visceral mass and contains the clam’s body organs.

Internal Clam Shell Anatomy 1. Mantle •Covers visceral or body mass •Holds in fluid •Secrets new shell 2. Ant. adductor muscle 3. Post. adductor muscle •Hold valves shut 4. Pericardium cavity •Region covered with thin, dark membrane •Contains 2-chambered heart and kidney in a fluid-filled sac 5. Mantle edge 6. Siphons •Left and ...

Dec 27, 2021 · A clam is a bivalve mollusk with two shells that are equal in size. Their two shell sections connect with dual adductor muscles. Every clam has a single foot, which it will use to burrow into sand and sediment. Most edible clams have oval-shaped shells. North Americans mainly enjoy eating clams in clam chowder, or steamed in a flavored broth.