English
Scientific name: Tapes decussatus
It is one of the most fished bivalve molluscs in the Mediterranean and is also one of the most appreciated and used in the many traditional Italian dishes.
Characteristics
the shell is oval and very solid, has dense radial growth stripes that distinguish it from the common clam and a white-gray-yellowish exterior colour, with dark-coloured stripes and spots, inside the colour tends to be white sometimes speckled with purple. Like all bivalves, it is a filtering organism that feeds mainly on phytoplankton and on small particles of organic matter that are suspended in the water.
The particular structure of the two siphons, clearly separated, makes it easily distinguishable from the Philipino clam that was introduced in the 80s in Italy following a drastic drop in the population of Tapes decussatus, probably attributable to excessive fishing. On average, their size is around 4-5 centimeters.
Habitat
In Italy it is particularly common in the Adriatic, but also in the lower and middle Tyrrhenian. It lives in colonies in shallow waters on sandy or muddy bottoms.
This clam is an endangered species in danger of extinction due to intensive fishing and according to the regulations in force, a quantity not exceeding 100 kilograms per day of this species of mollusc can be fished. In shallow waters they are usually collected by means of a rake, or with the aid of boats or mechanized systems, ie through a towing rake, hydraulic dredger, vibrating dredger, crampon, long and short pump. They can be farmed but are much less profitable in terms of production than the Manila clams.
Sources: