Donax variabilis, known by the common name coquina, is a species of small edible saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Donacidae, the bean clams. It is a warm water species which occurs in shallow water on sandy beaches on the east coast of the United States and is also plentiful in Mayaro, Trinidad as well as the Caribbean coast of Venezuela. Known as chip-chip in Trinidad and chipi-chipi in Venezuela.
| Donax variabilis | |
|---|---|
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| Donax variabilis shells showing some color variation | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Bivalvia |
| Order: | Cardiida |
| Family: | Donacidae |
| Genus: | Donax |
| Species: | D. variabilis
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| Binomial name | |
| Donax variabilis Say, 1822
| |
Distribution
editThis species occurs on the east coast of the United States, from Cape May, New Jersey to Florida including East Florida, West Florida and the Florida Keys.[1]
Description
editThe maximum reported size is 19 mm (0.75 in).[1] The exterior of the small shell of this species can have any one of a wide range of possible colors, from almost white, through yellow, pink, orange, red, purple, to brownish and blueish, with or without the presence of darker rays.[2][3]
Biology
editThis species lives from the intertidal zone of sandy beaches to a depth of 11 m (36 ft).[4] As most mollusks, the coquina is host to a variety of parasites. On the Atlantic Coast of the United States, studies have shown that coquinas harbour the larval stages (cercariae, sporocysts) of at least three species of digeneans (none of these represents a danger for humans).[5]
Human uses
editThe coquina is edible and is used to make broth. Some people collect the colorful shells to use for crafts. It's made into Accra in Trinidad as well as a type of cocktail with a local culantro flavoured sauce. It's also very popular in a coconut curry with cassava dumplings.
See also
edit- Donax fossor, a similar species with a more northern distribution
References
edit- ^ a b Rosenberg, G. 2009. Malacolog 4.1.1: A Database of Western Atlantic Marine Mollusca. [WWW database (version 4.1.1)] URL http://www.malacolog.org/
- ^ iLoveShelling, "Crayola Color Wheel Coquinas" Nov 8th [1] Accessed 2014-9-26
- ^ iLoveShelling, "Coquina Butterfly Kisses" July 14 [2] Accessed 2014-9-26
- ^ Rosenberg, G. 2009. Malacolog 4.1.1: A Database of Western Atlantic Marine Mollusca. [WWW database (version 4.1.1)] URL http://www.malacolog.org/
- ^ Hill-Spanik, Kristina M.; Sams, Claudia; Connors, Vincent A.; Bricker, Tessa; de Buron, Isaure (2021). "Molecular data reshape our understanding of the life cycles of three digeneans (Monorchiidae and Gymnophallidae) infecting the bivalve, Donax variabilis: it's just a facultative host!". Parasite. 28: 34. doi:10.1051/parasite/2021027. PMC 8034251. PMID 33835020.
- http://www.dnr.sc.gov/cwcs/pdf/Coquinaclam.pdf Archived 2015-11-23 at the Wayback Machine