EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Clams have a muscular hatchet-shaped foot for moving about and for burrowing in mud or sand (Fig. 3.62). By contrast, an oyster’s or a mussel’s foot is small because these animals attach themselves to hard objects early in life and do not move around.

Detailed explanation-2: -The foot is controlled by two muscles, the anterior and posterior foot muscles, which work together to control the foot. Clams are unique in that they have retracting muscles which allow for greater control of the foot.

Detailed explanation-3: -Two muscles-one on each end of the shell-keep the shell closed. To move, a clam uses a muscular “foot” that pushes out of the shell. A clam takes in and passes out water through two siphons, or tubes. The siphons may look like a long “neck” sticking out of the shell.

Detailed explanation-4: -They manage to maneuver their way beneath the seafloor using their foot. Yes, you heard that right, clams have feet! One foot to be exact. They open their shell enough to stick their foot out and shuffle their way into the sand where they hide from predators.