Blue
Malacological Collections
Mollusca for sale for food purposes in Texas
Mytilus edulis, Black Mussel
Fresh live mussels from grocery market
The identity of this group of mussels is not settled. They are possibly M. chilensis.
Mytilus chilensis, Chilean Mussel
Frozen mussels from grocery market
Perna canaliculus, Greenshell Mussel
Frozen mussels from grocery market
Mercenaria mercenaria, Littleneck Quahog
Fresh live clams from grocery market
Littlenecks, Cherrystones and Quahogs all refer to different size classes of the
common clam Mercenaria mercenaria, though various respondents will claim
they are different species. Quahog is the generic term that is in use for all of them,
and is Native American in origin. The purple portions of the interior shell were
punched out and strung as beads, which became known as wampum, and are the
American equivalent of Money Cowries as a trade medium.
Corbicula fluminea, Asian Clam
Live clams from the Guadalupe River
This now ubiquitous introduced clam was thought to have entered U.S. waterways in
Oregon after being brought to the country as a source of Oriental cultural cuisine. It has
now been found in 38 U.S. states and is a biofouling problem as well as displacing native
Unionid mussel species, many of which are endangered or in severe decline.
Crassostrea virginica, Eastern Oyster
Fresh live oysters from grocery market
Mytilus edulis/chilensis, Crassostrea virginica and Mercenaria mercenaria
Fresh live from grocery market
Helix pomatia, Escargot (Grosse Blanc)
Vintage shell servers, and canned meat from grocery market
