The Asiatic Clam, Corbicula fluminea

Corbicula are a species native to southeast Asia where some are cultivated and/or sold for food in places such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines and other Asian countries.

These clams were first introduced to North America near the end of the 19th Century. They were first recorded in the northwest corner of the United States and have since spread rapidly into many North American drainages, where, due to sheer numbers, they have become an important part of many freshwater benthic communities.

The clams' spread has been facilitated not only by its extraordinary reproductive capacity, but also through human assistance. People use the clam as fish bait, keep it as an aquarium species, and transport the animal to new locations in the bilge water of their boats.

In the United States, Corbicula is considered a pest species because its shells obstruct irrigation canals and underground pipes, as well as foul municipal water treatment facilities. It can out compete many native clam species, some of which are presently endangered, for food and space.

Corbicula thrive in streams and rivers with sandy or muddy bottoms interspersed with loose stones and rocks under which the animal often lives. They can survive in a lentic (little or no flowing water) system, but do require adequate oxygen. Corbiculadae are primarily a family of estuarine bivalves, but Corbicula fluminea is a freshwater member of the family. It does, however, retain some of the physiological adaptations for life in a slightly salty environment.

For more information, please call the Los Vaqueros Marina (925) 371-2628.