Ensis
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For other uses, see Ensis (disambiguation).
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Ensis is a genus of medium-sized edible saltwater clams, littoral bivalve mollusks in the family Solenidae.
In the USA, Ensis clams are usually[vague] called razor clams or jackknife clams.[citation needed] This is because the long, narrow, and parallel-sided shape of their shells is unusual in bivalves. The shape of these clams ressembles a closed, old-fashioned straight razor (a cut-throat razor), or a closed jackknife (pocket knife). The shells are fragile and can easily be damaged when digging for these clams.
Ensis species live in clean sand on exposed beaches. They are capable of digging very rapidly; see the description under the Atlantic jackknife clam.
[edit] Species
- Razor shell (Ensis arcuatus)
- Atlantic jackknife clam (Ensis directus)
- Jackknife clam (Ensis minor)
- Pod razor (Ensis siliqua)
- Ensis macha
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
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