The eyes of a clam!

C

calvertbill

Guest
I have six clams, a Maxima, 3 deRasas, and 2 crocea.
The 2 crocea and occasionally the Maxima will suddenly close when I approach to look at them.
I started out with the assumption that clams are eyeless so it must be a great sensitivity to the vibration of my footfalls transmitted through the floorboards, through the tank stand, through 450 gallons of water.
Only thing is, they'll sometimes close if I just shift in my chair to get a better camera angle!
Howdeydodat?
 

anadliv

Member
not sure what the technical name is for the cells in the mantle but they are highly resposive to changes in light
 

paintballer768

Active Member
Photoreceptors on the mantle. All over the room if I move, it usually will response. I think movements can have something to do with it though.
 
J

jrthomas40

Guest
i dont think it is eyes but photorecepters and they react to quick movements or quick changes in light intensity...hence when you wave your hand in front of the light casting a shadow over the clam it will flinch
 

viper_930

Active Member
Tridacna clams do in fact have eyes, but not eyes like us or a fish to see a picture. Sometimes a single clam will have a couple thousand eyes. They can detect changes in light, colors, and also movement. The eyes can look like small black dots, often around the edges of the mantle. IME with croceas and maximas the eyes can protrude and look like a small bump.
 
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