Category: Invertebrates
“Clam” is an informal name that refers to bivalves (such as oysters, scallops, mussels, cockles, clams, and numerous other families that can live in both fresh and saltwater environments. Most are filter feeders and have a shell consisting of two calcareous halves attached via a flexible ligament along a hinge line. Most are sedentary but some bivalves, such as scallops, are able to “swim” by opening and closing their valves rapidly. There are around 9200 named species of living bivalves and accompanying such a large number is an amazing diversity of forms, behavior, and other adaptations. Bivalves have historically been a very important part of the diet of coastal human populations.
It’s an ant’s world. We’re just living in it.
Do humans truly dominate the world? The Argentine ant may have something to say about that. Many ants are known for their large colonies, but the Argentine ant, named for its South American origins takes this to a whole other level. Due to inadvertent introduction by humans, the Argentine ant has spread to all continents except Antarctica. There are now three known super-colonies of these ants: one in Europe (the largest, covering 3,700 miles), one in California (560 miles), and another on the west coast of Japan. Ants are often territorial, but amazingly, ants belonging to the super-colonies recognize one another: if you were to introduce a super colony ant from Japan to one from Europe or California, they will recognize each other as friends!
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Discover Animals is a web-based educational resource offered by the NAIA
