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.
Cephalopods: Masterminds of the Ocean.
Octopi, cuttlefish, and squids - all cephalopods - have been observed engaging in amazing feats of intelligence (perhaps unsurprising, as cuttlefish and octopuses have the highest brain-to-body mass of all invertebrates). Their suction-cup covered arms are dexterous, and octopuses have been observed putting them to use throwing rocks, opening screw-top jars, even picking up and gathering coconut shells to build fortresses for themselves. Squids, for their part, have been observed hunting cooperatively and are able to communicate with one another via color changes, patterns, and flashing to one another - sometimes using different sides of their bodies to broadcast different signals to multiple squids! Just how smart are they? As they are typically elusive and so very different from humans, we aren’t sure yet - but we do know the question is not “Are they intelligent?” but “How intelligent are they?”
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