Normal Squamosa Anatomy

[Huskymaniac]

Is it normal for a squamy clam to have a hole on the underside where the mantle by the inhalant siphon is. I never noticed this on my Derasa Clam before.

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[Tahoe61]

It is the foot? I have seen the siphons inverted and sticking out the same opening as the foot though.

 

[Huskymaniac]

I dont think its the foot. Its like a perfect shape. Looks like an underneath Siphon.

 

[Huskymaniac]

Lights are almost off and the mantle is closing in for the night. The hole gets narrower when the mantle is not exapnded.

 

[needbiggertanks]

I havent seen that before, but I have seen pics of clams with multipe syphons. Im curious because it looks symmetrical to me, and not like a tear.

Did you just notice it?

 

[Huskymaniac]

Yea i noticed it yesterday. Usually the sand is a bit higher in the front of the clam so the area is hidden a bit.

 

[Huskymaniac]

So here it is now. A lot smaller so clearly the clam is able to open and close that hole.

 

[DSC reef]

It looks like a hole where the foot was. Typically as they get bigger they will drop there foot since the shell/weight can hold them in place. That's a really nice blue squamosa.

 

[reef lover]

Yup that is called the byssal opening perfectly normal.