Clams, scallops and oysters are included in the family known as bivalve mollusks. This name comes from the fact that they live in shells with two parts, called valves. These have a hinge, a strong ligament, which they use to open and close their shell.
Most clams live in soft sand or mud where they disappear quickly when danger threatens. The razor clam, an especially tasty treat, can dig its way to safety faster than most people can dig to catch it. But some clams, such as the quahog, do not dig quickly at all. These live only a few inches under the sand, near the water’s edge when the tide is out, and in shallow ocean water.
Boring clams are named for their ability to bore into rocks and other hard surfaces. Most of them do this using abrasive edges on their valves to twist away at the rock and make a hole to live in.
However, one giant boring clam, the crocea, burrows into coral reefs without having a sharp shell. Amazingly, it uses its soft foot to do this, and scientists have only recently discovered how this happens. The crocea has a chemical in its foot that lowers the acidity of the water under it. This softens the rock and makes a hole for the clam to live in. As it grows, it enlarges this hole, remaining safely inside its rocky home. It spends its life embedded in the coral reef, only letting its colorful “mantle” show on the surface to harvest energy from sunlight. Its food source is algae which live inside the clam, and the algae use the sunlight to grow and give food to the clam.
This creature gives us quite a few good lessons. First of all, it lives safely by living in a rock. The Lord is often called a Rock in Scripture. I hope you know how to go to the Lord when you have hard things in your life and how to live safely in a dangerous world by living in communion with Him all of the time.
Second, the crocea uses something in its soft foot to soften a hard surface. Proverbs 25:1515By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone. (Proverbs 25:15) says, “A soft tongue [breaks] the bone.” Proverbs 15:1 Says, “A soft answer [turns] away wrath.” If you face an angry person with kind words, it can help them stop being angry. Even bullies run out of mean things to say if you reply with loving words.
Third, the only food the crocea eats comes from taking in sunlight, which feeds the algae living in it. The Lord Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:1212Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12)). We feed on Him by reading the Bible. Have you enjoyed that light today?
Next week we will look at scallops and oysters.
Did You Know?
Boring clams are named for their ability to bore into rocks and other hard surfaces.
Messages of God’s Love 1/14/2024