Golden Clam
Golden clams displace highly vulnerable native mollusks that are often already threatened, reduce biodiversity, and alter the food chain. They can also cause algal blooms, damage to equipment, and clogs in industrial and commercial water systems.
Common Name: Golden clam
Scientific Name: Corbicula fluminea
Native Range: Asia
Background
Golden clam is a small bivalve mollusk native to eastern and southern Asia that was likely introduced to the West Coast of North America around 1930. Also known as Asiatic clam, prosperity clam, pygmy clam, golden clam, or good luck clam, Corbicula fluminea can be found in the sediments of freshwater habitats. The outside of the shells are yellow-green to brown with thick, elevated concentric rings. If the color chips away, white spots can be seen underneath. The inside of the shells may be light purple. Adults are small, usually less than 1.5 inches long.
Habitat
Golden clams are found in freshwater throughout the U.S. The species is hardy, persistent, and able to withstand many aquatic habitats, often preferring the warmer, shallower areas near the shore.
NYS Distribution Map
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Identification
Golden clam typically has an oval-triangular shape, with a dorsal “beak” or umbo at the peak of the shell. The outside of the shell is olive or yellowish to dark brown in color, with one to three brown-to-purple colored radial bands (particularly in juveniles) and white erosion rings near the umbo. There are also distinctly thick, concentric growth rings on the outside of the shell.
Impact
Golden clams displace highly vulnerable native mollusks that are often already threatened, reduce biodiversity, and alter the food chain. They can also cause algal blooms, damage to equipment, and clogs in industrial and commercial water systems. They are fast growing and can spread quickly. Able to self-fertilize, one clam can release roughly 350 offspring daily if conditions permit.
Prevention and Control
In closed environments such as power plants, chemical and mechanical methods can be used. Management is very difficult and labor intensive in a natural aquatic system, and eradication is very unlikely. Stopping aquarium dumping and live food releases, and cleaning boats and bait buckets, are critical to preventing its spread.
Native Lookalikes
