English
Scientific name: Venus gallina
The common clam is a bivalve mollusc particularly common in the Adriatic Sea. It is found in shallow waters and it is not unusual to find some specimens a few meters from the shore. In the past, in fact, they were often hand-picked by digging in the first layer of sand.
Characteristics
The shell is formed by two sturdy, roundish valves with evident concentric ribs on the outside on the inside it is smooth and light yellow. The external colouring, however, is very variable but usually has a base that varies from white to brown to gray with streaks or spots that can be white, brown or approach the shades of blue and purple. V. gallina is a small clam, especially when compared to the carpet clam or the Manila clam. The latter, in fact, reaches a maximum size of 6-7 cm while the maximum size of the common clam is around 4.5 cm with an average size of 2-3 cm.
Habitat
“Lupini” are widespread along the Mediterranean coast, but are particularly widespread in the Adriatic Sea due to its shallow waters. This species in fact lives mainly in sandy or muddy bottoms in water few centimetres deep up to 15m. Given its proximity to the coast, in difficult times this clam has been an important source of food for the coastal inhabitants who collected them by digging in the sand with their bare hands. Today, however, large quantities are collected with boats called “clammers” equipped with specialised equipment.
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