| Common Name |
Fingernail Clam |
| Phylum |
Mollusca |
| Class |
Bivalvia |
| Order |
Veneroida |
| Family |
Sphaeriidae |
| Description |
2-10mm long, rarely up to 20mm. The growth rings are very close together and hardly raised - the shell feels smooth when you run your fingernail across the lines. For more photos, refer to our online gallery: tinyurl.com/t22echa |
| Habitat |
Can be found on any substrate except bedrock and are the most dominant bivalves in ponds and deep areas of lakes. Can be found in all water velocities. |
| Feeding Information |
Feed in from one siphon and release waste and indigestibles through the other. Feed on small pieces of organic matter such as plankton and small pieces of leaves. |
| Water Quality Tolerance |
Slightly more tolerant of pollution than other clams. Found in both highly polluted and pristine water. Unlike mussels, they aren't restricted to areas with high concentrations of calcium carbonate. |
| References |
Voshell & Wright. 2002. |
