Pholas orientalis

Pholas orientalis (Gmelin, 1791) belongs to the Phylum Mollusca. Pholas orientalis is a marine bivalve characterized by two thin elongated shells hinged on a flexible ligament; which located in the sagittal plane.

These clams are known as “angelwing clams”, “diwal” in the Philippines, “mentarang” in Malaysia, “pim” in Thailand, and “tembarang” or “bintarang” in Indonesia. They can be found in film mud, clay and shale.

Members of the class Bivalvia are mostly gonochoric, some are protandric hermaphrodites. Collected by divers using an iron or wooden paddle-shaped implement or bare hands to dig the animals from their burrows.

Size: maximum shell length 12 cm, commonly up to 9 cm Elongate-ovate inaequilateral shell , longer than high, widens towards the umbo. Anterior end round, posterior end narrow.

Life cycle: Mature eggs measured 50 μm in diameter. Cell division occurred within 36 min after fertilization. Mobile trochophore larvae were seen after 12 h and larvae developed within 18 h. Embryos develop into free-swimming trocophore larvae, succeeded by the bivalve veliger, resembling a miniature clam.
Pholas orientalis

Shellfish species of surf clams

The surf clam or ‘skimmer’ is large, reaching a length of 8 in, (20.3 cm). It is found just below the surface of sandy bottoms in waters 30 to 100 ft (9 to 30 m) deep off Atlantic Coast states from Massachusetts to including Virginia.

Areas of coarse grain size (i.e pebbles or cobbles) are virtually devoid of surf clams. Atlantic surf clams are planktivorous filter feeders that pump water through their siphons over the gills to trap foods.

Many predators, including snails, shrimps, crabs, and fish –haddock and cod, feed on surf clams.

Maximum age exceeds 30 years; surf clams of age 15-20 years are common in many areas. Surf clams are harvested when they reach 4 inch (10 cm) which occurs at about 5 years of age.

Currently, commercial concentrations are primarily found off of the New Jersey shore, the Delmarva Peninsula, and on Georges Bank.

Most of harvesting this species is done off New Jersey with water-jet dredges having V-shaped scoop. Aboard the boats, the clams are placed in baskets or jute bags and brought to the processing plants without refrigeration.
Shellfish species of surf clams