Donax serra (bivalve) BIRUG 19057

3D Model

Donax serra, also known as the South African wedge clam is an edible bivalve with a distribution limited to exposed sandy beaches of South Africa and Namibia.

They inhabit specific areas of these shorelines, such that as many as 400 individuals can be found per square metre. These clams migrate up and down the beach depending on the tide – during spring tides they sit close to the mid-tide level and move to the low-tide level at neap tides. As the sand is washed by the tides these clams can become exposed, though they are incredibly fast burrowers and re-bury themselves in just a few seconds. Being one of the largest species in the genus, D. serra can live for at least five years and reach up to 65mm in length.

A number of anatomical features of some bivalves are annotated on this model, including hinge teeth; adductor muscle scars; pallial line & pallial sinus.

This specimen was scanned by Sian Miller using an Artec Spider 3D scanner & animated by A Jones.