Soft Shell Clam (Mya arenaria):
These days Soft Shell clams are seldom seen on the shores of Boston’s inner-harbors, but at one time they were one of the most abundant and economically important species in the region. Waterfront development and anthropogenic influences have decreased habitat and water quality so much that the species experienced a devastating decline over the last 100 years. These greyish black filter feeders, will often burry themselves in the mud and silt as adults and extend their “necks” or feeding tubes to the surface to syphon plankton out of the water in a process termed bioturbation. This behavior helps the clam stay protected from predators, and plays an important role in nutrient
Soft Shell Clam