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This is a partial list of edible molluscs.
Mollusc Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 85,000  extant species of molluscs are recognized. The number of fossil species is esti ...
s are a large
phylum In biology, a phylum (; plural: phyla) is a level of classification or taxonomic rank below kingdom and above class. Traditionally, in botany the term division has been used instead of phylum, although the International Code of Nomenclature f ...
of
invertebrate Invertebrates are a paraphyletic group of animals that neither possess nor develop a vertebral column (commonly known as a ''backbone'' or ''spine''), derived from the notochord. This is a grouping including all animals apart from the chordate ...
animals, many of which have shells. Edible molluscs are harvested from saltwater, freshwater, and the land, and include numerous members of the classes
Gastropoda The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda (). This class comprises snails and slugs from saltwater, from freshwater, and from land. ...
(snails),
Bivalvia Bivalvia (), in previous centuries referred to as the Lamellibranchiata and Pelecypoda, is a class of marine and freshwater molluscs Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of w ...
(clams, scallops, oysters etc.),
Cephalopoda A cephalopod is any member of the molluscan class Cephalopoda (Greek plural , ; "head-feet") such as a squid, octopus, cuttlefish, or nautilus. These exclusively marine animals are characterized by bilateral body symmetry, a prominent hea ...
(octopus and squid), and Polyplacophora (chitons). Many species of molluscs are eaten worldwide, either cooked or raw. Some mollusc species are commercially exploited and shipped as part of the international trade in
shellfish Shellfish is a colloquial and fisheries term for exoskeleton-bearing aquatic invertebrates used as food, including various species of molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms. Although most kinds of shellfish are harvested from saltwater envir ...
; other species are harvested, sold and consumed locally. Some species are collected and eaten locally but are rarely bought and sold. A few species of molluscs are not commonly eaten now, but were eaten in historical or prehistoric times. The list is divided into marine and non-marine (terrestrial and freshwater) species, and within those divisions, the lists are primarily arranged
taxonomically In biology, taxonomy () is the scientific study of naming, defining ( circumscribing) and classifying groups of biological organisms based on shared characteristics. Organisms are grouped into taxa (singular: taxon) and these groups are given ...
, so that related species are grouped together.


Marine species


Gastropods (snails)

These
sea snail Sea snail is a common name for slow-moving marine gastropod molluscs, usually with visible external shells, such as whelk or abalone. They share the taxonomic class Gastropoda with slugs, which are distinguished from snails primarily by the ...
s are edible; some are listed by
genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
, others by
species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
and others by their
common name In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contrast ...
. Most species of
abalone Abalone ( or ; via Spanish , from Rumsen ''aulón'') is a common name for any of a group of small to very large marine gastropod molluscs in the family (biology), family Haliotidae. Other common name In biology, a common name of a taxon o ...
, including: *
Abalone Abalone ( or ; via Spanish , from Rumsen ''aulón'') is a common name for any of a group of small to very large marine gastropod molluscs in the family (biology), family Haliotidae. Other common name In biology, a common name of a taxon o ...
*
Black abalone ''Haliotis cracherodii'', the black abalone, is a species of large edible sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Haliotidae, the abalones. This species is relatively small compared with most of the other abalone species from the ...
*
Blacklip abalone The blacklip abalone, ''Haliotis rubra'', is an Australian species of large, edible sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Haliotidae, the abalones.Bouchet, P. (2012). Haliotis rubra Leach, 1814. Accessed through: World Register ...
*
Green abalone ''Haliotis fulgens'', commonly called the green abalone, is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Haliotidae, the abalones. The shell of this species is usually brown, and is marked with many low, flat-topped ...
*
Green ormer The green ormer (''Haliotis tuberculata'') is a northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean species of sea snail, a coastal marine gastropod mollusc in the family Haliotidae, the abalones or ormer snails. The flesh of the green ormer is prized as a de ...
* ''
Haliotis corrugata The pink abalone, scientific name ''Haliotis corrugata'', is a species of large edible sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Haliotidae, the abalones.Oliver, A.P.H. (2004). ''Guide to Seashells of the World.'' Buffalo: Firefly ...
'' *
Red abalone ''Haliotis rufescens'' (red abalone) is a species of very large edible sea snail in the family Haliotidae, the abalones, ormer shells or paua.Rosenberg, G. (2014)''Haliotis rufescens'' Swainson, 1822.Accessed through: World Register of Marine ...
*
White abalone The white abalone, scientific name ''Haliotis sorenseni'', is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Haliotidae, the abalones.Rosenberg, G. (2014). Haliotis sorenseni. Accessed through: World Register of Marine ...
*
Pāua Pāua is the Māori name given to three New Zealand species of large edible sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs which belong to the family Haliotidae (in which there is only one genus, ''Haliotis''), known in the United States and Austral ...
Many species of
true limpets The Patellogastropoda, common name true limpets and historically called the Docoglossa, are members of a major phylogenetic group of marine gastropods, treated by experts either as a clade or as a taxonomic order. The clade Patellogastropoda ...
, including: * ''
Cellana exarata ''Cellana exarata'', common name the black-foot ʻopihi and Hawaiian blackfoot is a species of edible true limpet, a marine (ocean), marine gastropod mollusc in the family (biology), family Nacellidae, one of the families of true limpets. ‘Opih ...
'' * ''
Cellana sandwicensis ''Cellana sandwicensis'', common name the yellow-foot ʻopihi, is a species of edible true limpet, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Nacellidae, one of the families of true limpets. Distribution This species is endemic to the islands ...
'' * ''
Patella caerulea ''Patella caerulea'', is a species of limpet in the family Patellidae. It is known by the common names Mediterranean limpet and rayed Mediterranean limpet.
'' * ''
Patella ferruginea ''Patella ferruginea'', commonly known as the ribbed Mediterranean limpet, is a species of sea snail, a true limpet, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Patellidae, one of the families of true limpets. It is a large limpet, native to the ...
'' * '' Patella rustica'' * '' Patella ulyssiponensis'' * ''
Patella vulgata ''Patella vulgata'', common name the common limpet or common European limpet is a species of sea snail. It is a typical true limpet; a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Patellidae, with gills.Gofas, S. (2014). Patella vulgata Linnaeus, 1758 ...
'' Many species of winkles, including: * ''
Austrolittorina antipodum ''Austrolittorina antipodum'', known as the banded periwinkle, is a species of small sea snail, a marine gastropod in the winkles and periwinkles family, Littorinidae. It is found in New Zealand. It occurs in New Zealand New Zealand ( m ...
'' *
Common periwinkle The common periwinkle or winkle (''Littorina littorea'') is a species of small edible whelk or sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc that has gills and an operculum, and is classified within the family Littorinidae, the periwinkles.Reid, David ...
* '' Littorina sitkana'' * and other species in the family
Littorinidae The Littorinidae are a Taxonomy (biology), taxonomic family (biology), family of over 200 species of sea snails, marine (ocean), marine gastropod molluscs in the clade Littorinimorpha, commonly known as periwinkles and found worldwide. Names In ...
Many species of conchs, including: * ''
Lobatus gigas ''Aliger gigas,'' originally known as ''Strombus gigas'' or more recently as ''Lobatus gigas'', commonly known as the queen conch, is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family of true conches, the Strombidae. Th ...
'' * ''
Laevistrombus canarium ''Laevistrombus canarium'' ( commonly known as the dog conch or by its better-known synonym, ''Strombus canarium'') is a species of edible sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Strombidae (true conches). Known from illustrations in ...
'' Some rock snail species, including: * ''
Chorus giganteus ''Chorus giganteus'' is a species of sea snail in the family Muricidae. It is endemic to the coast of Chile, where it occurs from Antofagasta ( 23° S) to the south of the country (around 39° S) at depths of . It is a benthic predato ...
'' * ''
Concholepas concholepas ''Concholepas concholepas'', the Chilean abalone, is a species of large edible sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk. Despite the superficial resemblance, ''C. concholepas'' is not a true abalone (a species in the family Haliotidae), but a memb ...
'' * '' Turbo bruneus'' * ''
Turbo cornutus ''Turbo cornutus'', common name the horned turban, is a species of sea snail, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae. Description The scientific name ''Turbo cornutus'', literally means "horned turban," and it is characterized by a ...
'' * '' Turbo intercostalis'' * ''
Tectus niloticus ''Rochia nilotica'', common name the commercial top shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Tegulidae.MolluscaBase eds. (2022). MolluscaBase. Rochia nilotica (Linnaeus, 1767). Accessed through: World Register o ...
'' Many species of
whelk Whelk (also known as scungilli) is a common name applied to various kinds of sea snail. Although a number of whelks are relatively large and are in the family Buccinidae (the true whelks), the word ''whelk'' is also applied to some other marin ...
s,
Buccinidae The Buccinidae are a very large and diverse taxonomic family of large sea snails, often known as whelks or true whelks.Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S. (2010). Buccinidae. In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. (2010) World Marine Mollusca database. Acc ...
, including: *
Channeled whelk ''Busycotypus canaliculatus'', commonly known as the channeled whelk, is a very large predatory sea snail, a marine prosobranch gastropod, a busycon whelk, belonging to the family Busyconidae.Fraussen, K.; Rosenberg, G. (2012). Busycotypus canali ...
*
Lightning whelk ''Sinistrofulgur perversum'', the lightning whelk, is an edible species of very large predatory sea snail or whelk, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Busyconidae, the busycon whelks. This species has a left-handed or sinistral shell. It ...
*
Knobbed whelk The knobbed whelk (''Busycon carica'') is a species of very large predatory sea snail, or in the US, a whelk, a marine (ocean), marine gastropod mollusc, mollusk in the family (biology), family Busyconidae, the busycon whelks. The knobbed whel ...
Other sea snail groups: * '' Bullacta exarata'', a bubble snail * '' Amphibola crenata'', an air-breathing mud snail *
melo melo ''Melo melo'', common name the Indian volute or bailer shell, is a very large edible sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Volutidae, the volutes. Distribution The distribution of this species is restricted to Southeast Asia ...
a
volute A volute is a spiral, scroll-like ornament that forms the basis of the Ionic order, found in the capital of the Ionic column. It was later incorporated into Corinthian order and Composite column capitals. Four are normally to be found on an Ion ...
snail *
euspira heros ''Euspira heros'', the northern moon snail, is a species of large sea snail in the family Naticidae.Gofas, S.; Bouchet, P.; Rosenberg, G. (2015). Euspira heros (Say, 1822). In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Speci ...
a large
moon snail The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. It is the fifth largest satellite in the Solar System and the largest and most massive relative to its parent planet, with a diameter about one-quarter that of Earth (comparable to the width of ...


Bivalves (clams etc.)

Note that the
common name In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contrast ...
s of edible bivalves can be misleading, in that not all species known as "cockles" "oysters", "mussels", etc., are closely related. Ark clams ( Arcidae), including: *
Blood cockle ''Tegillarca granosa'' (also known as ''Anadara granosa'') is a species of ark clam known as the blood cockle or blood clam due to the red haemoglobin liquid inside the soft tissues. It is found throughout the Indo-Pacific region from the eastern ...
* '' Senilia senilis'' Many species of true
mussel Mussel () is the common name used for members of several families of bivalve molluscs, from saltwater and Freshwater bivalve, freshwater habitats. These groups have in common a shell whose outline is elongated and asymmetrical compared with other ...
s, family
Mytilidae Mytilidae are a family of small to large marine and brackish-water bivalve molluscs in the order Mytilida. One of the genera, '' Limnoperna'', even inhabits freshwater environments. The order has only this one family which contains some 52 gener ...
, including: *
Blue mussel The blue mussel (''Mytilus edulis''), also known as the common mussel, is a medium-sized edible marine bivalve mollusc in the family Mytilidae, the mussels. Blue mussels are subject to commercial use and intensive aquaculture. A species with a l ...
*
California mussel The California mussel (''Mytilus californianus'') is a large edible mussel, a marine bivalve mollusk in the family Mytilidae. This species is native to the west coast of North America, occurring from northern Mexico to the Aleutian Islands ...
*
Mediterranean mussel The Mediterranean mussel (''Mytilus galloprovincialis'') is a species of bivalve, a marine (ocean), marine mollusc in the family (biology), family Mytilidae. It is an invasive species in many parts of the world, and also an object of aquaculture ...
* ''
Mytilus coruscus ''Mytilus unguiculatus'', common name the Korean mussel or the hard-shelled mussel, is a species of mussel, a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Mytilidae. This species is heavily exploited as a food item via mariculture in Korea and in ...
'' * ''
Perna canaliculus ''Perna canaliculus'', the New Zealand green-lipped mussel, also known as the New Zealand mussel, the greenshell mussel, ''kuku'', and ''kutai'', is a bivalve mollusc in the family Mytilidae (the true mussels). ''P. canaliculus'' has economic i ...
'' * '' Perna perna'' * ''
Perna viridis ''Perna viridis'', known as the Asian green mussel, is an economically important mussel, a bivalve belonging to the family Mytilidae. It is harvested for food but is also known to harbor toxins and cause damage to submerged structures such as d ...
'' Many species of Pen shell including: * Atrina rigida * Pinna carnea *
Pinna nobilis ''Pinna nobilis'', common name the noble pen shell or fan mussel, is a large species of Mediterranean clam, a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Pinnidae, the pen shells. *''Pinna gigas'' Chemnitz It reaches up to of shell length.Zavodn ...
Many species of true oysters, including: * Auckland oyster * Dredge oyster *
Mangrove oyster Mangrove oyster is a common name for several oysters that live on mangrove roots and may refer to: *'' Crassostrea rhizophorae'' *'' Crassostrea tulipa'' *' {{Animal common name Mollusc common names ...
* ''
Ostrea angasi The southern mud oyster, Australian flat oyster, native flat oyster, native mud oyster, or angasi oyster (''Ostrea angasi''), is endemic to southern Australia, ranging from Western Australia to southeast New South Wales and around Tasmania. ''O ...
'' * ''
Ostrea edulis ''Ostrea edulis'', commonly known as the European flat oyster, is a species of oyster native to Europe. In Britain and Ireland, regional names include Colchester native oyster, mud oyster, or edible oyster. In France, ''Ostrea edulis'' are known ...
'' *
Pacific oyster The Pacific oyster, Japanese oyster, or Miyagi oyster (''Magallana gigas''), is an oyster native to the Pacific coast of Asia. It has become an introduced species in North America, Australia, Europe, and New Zealand. Etymology The genus ''Mag ...
* Rock oysters ** '' Saccostrea glomerata'' (Sydney rock oyster) **'' Saccostrea echinata'' (Tropical black-lip rock oyster * Portuguese oyster *
Eastern oyster The eastern oyster (''Crassostrea virginica'')—also called the Atlantic oyster, American oyster, or East Coast oyster—is a species of true oyster native to eastern North and South America. Other names in local or culinary use include the We ...
Many species of true cockles, including: * ''
Clinocardium nuttallii ''Clinocardium '' is a genus of marine bivalve molluscs in the family Cardiidae, the cockles. It is monotypic, being represented by the single species ''Clinocardium nuttallii'', also known as the basket cockle or Nuttall's cockle, a large edib ...
'' * ''
Cerastoderma edule The common cockle (''Cerastoderma edule'') is a species of edible saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Cardiidae, the cockles. It is found in waters off Europe, from Iceland in the north, south into waters off western Africa ...
'' * dinocardium Many species of
scallop Scallop () is a common name that encompasses various species of marine bivalve mollusks in the taxonomic family Pectinidae, the scallops. However, the common name "scallop" is also sometimes applied to species in other closely related families ...
, including: * ''
Argopecten irradians ''Argopecten irradians'', formerly classified as ''Aequipecten irradians'', common names Atlantic bay scallop or bay scallop, is a species of scallop in the family Pectinidae. An edible saltwater clam, it is native to the northwest Atlantic fro ...
'' * '' Argopecten purpuratus'' * '' Pecten jacobaeus'' * ''
Pecten maximus ''Pecten maximus'', common names the great scallop, king scallop, St James shell or escallop, is a northeast Atlantic species of scallop, an edible saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Pectinidae. This is the type species of ...
'' * '' Pecten novaezealandiae'' * ''
Placopecten magellanicus ''Placopecten magellanicus'', previously listed as ''Pecten tenuicostatus'' and as ''Pecten grandis'' and once referred to as the "giant scallop", common names Atlantic deep-sea scallop, deep sea scallop, North Atlantic sea scallop, American se ...
'' Many species of
venus clam The Veneridae or venerids, common name: Venus clams, are a very large family of minute to large, saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs. Over 500 living species of venerid bivalves are known, most of which are edible, and many of which are ex ...
, including: * ''
Austrovenus stutchburyi ''Austrovenus stutchburyi'', common name the New Zealand cockle or New Zealand little neck clam, is an edible saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Veneridae, the Venus clams. Its Māori name is (North Island) or (South I ...
'' * '' Chione californiensis'' *
Grooved carpet shell The grooved carpet shell, or Palourde clam, ''Ruditapes decussatus'', or ''Venerupis decussatus'', is a clam (bivalve mollusc) in the family Veneridae. It is distributed worldwide and due to its ecological and economic interest has been proposed ...
*
Quahog The hard clam (''Mercenaria mercenaria''), also known as the round clam, hard-shell (or hard-shelled) clam, or the quahog, is an edible marine bivalve mollusk that is native to the eastern shores of North America and Central America from Prince E ...
* ''
Ruditapes largillierti ''Ruditapes largillierti'' is a saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Veneridae, the Venus clams. They are moderately large for their genus (45–65 mm long), elongate and subrectangular, thick and solid, with smooth ven ...
'' * ''
Saxidomus gigantea ''Saxidomus gigantea'' is a large, edible saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusk in the family Veneridae, the venus clams. It can be found along the western coast of North America, ranging from the Aleutian Islands to San Francisco Bay. Common ...
'' * '' Leukoma'' * ''
Saxidomus nuttalli ''Saxidomus nuttalli'' is a species of large edible saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusk in the family Veneridae, the venus clams.Paphies ''Paphies'' is a genus of large, edible, saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs in the family Mesodesmatidae. The genus is endemic to New Zealand. The species in this genus include the pipi ('' P. australis''), tuatua (''P. subtriangulata'') ...
'' * ''
Paphies australis ''Paphies australis'' or pipi (from the Māori language) is a bivalve mollusc of the family Mesodesmatidae, endemic to New Zealand. MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. Paphies australis (Gmelin, 1791). Accessed through: World Register of Ma ...
'' * ''
Paphies ventricosa ''Paphies ventricosa'', or toheroa (a Māori word meaning "long tongue"), is a large bivalve mollusc of the family Mesodesmatidae, endemic to New Zealand. Distribution It is found in both the North and South Islands, but the main habitat is th ...
'' *
Pismo clam ''Tivela stultorum'', also known as the Pismo clam, is a species of large, edible, saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusk in the family Veneridae, the Venus clams. This species is native to the eastern Pacific Ocean. As the name implies, the ...
* Smooth clam *
Tuatua ''Paphies subtriangulata'' is a species of edible bivalve clam known as tuatua in the Māori language, a member of the family Mesodesmatidae and endemic to New Zealand. It is found on all three of the main New Zealand islands, buried in fine cle ...
* ''
Venerupis philippinarum ''Lajonkairia lajonkairii'' is an edible species of saltwater clam in the family Veneridae, the Venus clams. MolluscaBase eds. (2022). MolluscaBase. Lajonkairia lajonkairii (Payraudeau, 1826). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at ...
'' Many species in the family
Mactridae Mactridae, common name the trough shells or duck clams, is a family of saltwater clams, marine bivalve mollusks in the order Venerida. Description These clams have two short siphons, each with a horny sheath. The shell is shaped like a rounded- ...
, including: * Atlantic surf clam * ''
Mactra stultorum ''Mactra stultorum'', previously sometimes known as ''Mactra corallina'', is a species of edible saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Mactridae, the trough shells. Distribution This species lives in the Black Sea, the Medite ...
'' * '' Meretrix (genus)'' * '' Meretrix lyrata'' * ''
Tresus ''Tresus'' is a genus of saltwater clams, marine bivalve mollusks in the family Mactridae. Many of them are known under the common name the horse clam or as species of gaper clam. They are similar to geoducks. Species Species within the genus ...
'' * ''
Tresus capax ''Tresus capax'' is a species of saltwater clam, marine bivalve mollusk, common name the fat gaper, in the family Mactridae. It also shares the common name horse clam with '' Tresus nuttallii'' a species which is similar in morphology and lifes ...
'' * ''
Tresus nuttallii ''Tresus nuttallii'', common name the Pacific gaper, is a species of saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusk in the family Mactridae. It also shares the common name horse clam with ''Tresus capax'', a species which is similar in morphology an ...
'' * '' Spisula aequilateralis'' Many species of razor clams
Pharidae Pharidae is a taxonomic family of saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs in the order Adapedonta. This family of clams is related to the razor shells, a family which is considered to include Pharidae by some authorities. Genera Genera within ...
, including: *
Atlantic jackknife clam The Atlantic jackknife clam, ''Ensis leei'', also known as the bamboo clam, American jackknife clam or razor clam, is a large edible marine bivalve mollusc found on the North American Atlantic coast, from Canada to South Carolina. The specie ...
* ''
Ensis ''Ensis'' is a genus of medium-sized edible saltwater clams, littoral bivalve molluscs in the family Pharidae. ''Ensis'', or razor clams, are known in much of Scotland as spoots, for the spouts of water they eject while burrowing into the sa ...
'' * ''
Ensis macha ''Ensis macha'', or navaja or navajuela as it is called in Spanish, is a bivalve mollusc of the family Pharidae. It inhabits the coasts of Peru, Chile and southern Argentina. It is different from the clam colloquially known as the macha in Chile ...
'' *
Pacific razor clam The Pacific razor clam, ''Siliqua patula'', is a species of large marine bivalve mollusc in the family Pharidae. Range Pacific razor clams can be found along the Pacific West Coast of North America from the eastern Aleutian Islands, Alaska, t ...
*
Pod razor The pod razor (''Ensis siliqua'') is a coastal bivalve of European waters. It is edible and has been fished commercially, especially in Portugal, Spain, Ireland and Scotland. ''Ensis siliqua'' is also known as the razor fish, razor clam or gian ...
*
Razor shell A razor is a bladed tool primarily used in the removal of body hair through the act of shaving. Kinds of razors include straight razors, safety razors, disposable razors, and electric razors. While the razor has been in existence since before ...
* ''
Sinonovacula ''Sinonovacula'' is a genus of bivalves. Species include: *''Sinonovacula constricta ''Sinonovacula constricta'', the constricted tagelus, Chinese razor clam or Agemaki clam, is a commercially important species of bivalve native to th ...
'' Several species of bean clams
Donacidae The Donacidae, the "bean clams" or "wedge shells", are a family of bivalve molluscs of the superfamily Tellinoidea. The family is related to the ''Tellina''. The Donacidae are prolific filter feeders and are an important part of coastal food ...
, including: * ''
Plebidonax deltoides ''Plebidonax deltoides'' or ''Donax deltoides'' is a small, edible saltwater clam or Ocean, marine Bivalvia, bivalve Mollusca, mollusc, Endemism, endemic to Australia. It belongs to the family (biology), family of either the Donacidae, or the r ...
'' Other bivalve species, including: * ''
Arctica islandica The ocean quahog (''Arctica islandica'') is a species of edible clam, a marine bivalve mollusk in the family Arcticidae. This species is native to the North Atlantic Ocean, and it is harvested commercially as a food source. This species is als ...
'' *
Geoduck The Pacific geoduck ("gooey-duck"; ; ''Panopea generosa'') is a species of very large saltwater clam in the family Hiatellidae. The common name is derived from the Lushootseed ( Nisqually) word . The geoduck is native to the coastal waters of t ...
* '' Lithophaga lithophaga'' * '' Mya truncata'' * ''
Pholas dactylus ''Pholas dactylus'', or common piddock, is a bioluminescent clam-like species of marine mollusc found on the coasts of the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. It bores into gneiss. It was once a highly esteemed food in Europe.Gofas, S. ...
'' * ''
Placunidae Placunidae, also known as windowpane oysters, windowpane shells, and Capiz shells, are a taxonomic family of saltwater clams, marine bivalve mollusks which are related to oysters and scallops. This family is best known for the shells of the s ...
'' - windowpane oysters, not true oysters * ''
Pinctada ''Pinctada'' is a genus of saltwater oysters, marine bivalve mollusks in the family Pteriidae. These pearl oysters have a strong inner shell layer composed of nacre, also known as "mother of pearl". Pearl oysters are not closely related to eit ...
'' *
Soft-shell clam Soft-shell clams (American English) or sand gaper (British English/Europe), scientific name ''Mya arenaria'', popularly called "steamers", "softshells", "piss clams", "Ipswich clams", or "Essex clams" are a species of edible saltwater clam, a ...


Chitons (coat of mail shells)

* ''
Chiton magnificus ''Chiton magnificus'', the liquorice sea cradle, is a Southeast Pacific species of edible chiton, a marine polyplacophoran mollusk in the family Chitonidae, the typical chitons. Description ''Chiton magnificus'' is a very large chiton, with sp ...
'' * Gumboot chiton * ''
Katharina tunicata ''Katharina tunicata'' (Wood, 1815) is commonly known as the black Katy chiton, black Leather chiton, black chiton, or leather chiton, (Kasuqix in the indigenous Aleut language), is a species of chiton in the family Mopaliidae. Description Capa ...
'' * West Indian fuzzy chiton


Cephalopods (octopus, squid etc.)

Many species of
octopus An octopus ( : octopuses or octopodes, see below for variants) is a soft-bodied, eight- limbed mollusc of the order Octopoda (, ). The order consists of some 300 species and is grouped within the class Cephalopoda with squids, cuttle ...
including: * '' Amphioctopus fangsiao'' * '' Bathypolypus valdiviae'' * ''
Enteroctopus dofleini The giant Pacific octopus (''Enteroctopus dofleini''), also known as the North Pacific giant octopus, is a large marine cephalopod belonging to the genus ''Enteroctopus''. Its spatial distribution includes the coastal North Pacific, along Mexico ...
'' * ''
Enteroctopus megalocyathus ''Enteroctopus megalocyathus'', also known as Patagonian red octopus (EN), Pulpo del sur (Chile) and Pulpo colorado (Argentina); is a medium-sized octopus, and the type species for the genus '' Enteroctopus''. Size and description ''E. megalocy ...
'' * ''
Octopus cyanea ''Octopus cyanea'', also known as the big blue octopus or day octopus, is an octopus in the family Octopodidae. It occurs in both the Pacific and Indian Oceans, from Hawaii to the eastern coast of Africa.Norman, M.D. 2000. ''Cephalopods: A World ...
'' * '' Octopus macropus'' Many species of
squid True squid are molluscs with an elongated soft body, large eyes, eight arms, and two tentacles in the superorder Decapodiformes, though many other molluscs within the broader Neocoleoidea are also called squid despite not strictly fitting t ...
are used as
food Food is any substance consumed by an organism for nutritional support. Food is usually of plant, animal, or fungal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals. The substance is inge ...
, including: *
Humboldt squid The Humboldt squid (''Dosidicus gigas''), also known as jumbo squid or jumbo flying squid (EN), and Pota in Peru or Jibia in Chile (ES) is a large, predatory squid living in the eastern Pacific Ocean. It is the only known species of the genus ''D ...
*
Japanese flying squid The Japanese flying squid, Japanese common squid or Pacific flying squid, scientific name ''Todarodes pacificus'', is a squid of the family Ommastrephidae. This animal lives in the northern Pacific Ocean, in the area surrounding Japan, along the ...
*
longfin inshore squid The longfin inshore squid (''Doryteuthis pealeii'') is a species of squid of the family Loliginidae. Description This species of squid is often seen with a reddish hue, but like many types of squid can manipulate its color, varying from a deep ...
* veined squid *
European squid The European squid or common squid (''Loligo vulgaris'') is a large squid belonging to the family Loliginidae. It occurs abundantly in coastal waters from the North Sea to at least the west coast of Africa. This species lives from sea level to ...
Some species of
cuttlefish Cuttlefish or cuttles are marine molluscs of the order Sepiida. They belong to the class Cephalopoda which also includes squid, octopuses, and nautiluses. Cuttlefish have a unique internal shell, the cuttlebone, which is used for control of ...
are eaten: * '' Sepiadarium kochi'' * '' Sepiella inermis'' Other cephalopods: *
Nautilus The nautilus (, ) is a pelagic marine mollusc of the cephalopod family Nautilidae. The nautilus is the sole extant family of the superfamily Nautilaceae and of its smaller but near equal suborder, Nautilina. It comprises six living species in ...


Non-marine species

Edible freshwater and land mollusc species include freshwater snails, clams, mussels and land snails:


Land snails

*
Escargot Snails are considered edible in many areas such as the Mediterranean region, Africa, or Southeast Asia, while in other cultures, snails are seen as a taboo food. In American English, edible land snails are also called escargot, taken from the Fre ...
*''
Cornu aspersum ''Cornu aspersum'' (syn. ''Cryptomphalus aspersus''), known by the common name garden snail, is a species of land snail in the family Helicidae, which includes some of the most familiar land snails. Of all terrestrial molluscs, this species may ...
'' * '' Helix lucorum'' * '' Helix nucula'' * ''
Helix pomatia ''Helix pomatia'', common names the Roman snail, Burgundy snail, or escargot, is a species of large, edible, air-breathing land snail, a pulmonate gastropod terrestrial mollusc in the family Helicidae.MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. ...
'' *
grove snail The grove snail, brown-lipped snail or Lemon snail (''Cepaea nemoralis'') is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc. MolluscaBase eds. (2020). MolluscaBase. Cepaea nemoralis (Linnaeus, 1758). Accessed ...


Freshwater clams

* ''
Corbicula fluminea ''Corbicula fluminea'' is a species of freshwater clam native to eastern Asia which has become a successful invasive species throughout North America, South America, and Europe. ''Corbicula fluminea'' is commonly known in the west as the Asian cl ...
''


See also

* '' Consider the Oyster'' *
List of seafood dishes This is a list of notable seafood dishes. Seafood dishes are food dishes which use seafood (fish, shellfish or seaweed) as primary ingredients, and are ready to be served or eaten with any needed preparation or cooking completed. Many fish or ...
* Mollusca – uses by humans *
Oyster bar An oyster bar, also known as an oyster saloon, oyster house or a raw bar service, is a restaurant specializing in serving oysters, or a section of a restaurant which serves oysters buffet-style. Oysters have been consumed since ancient times and w ...
*
Oyster farming Oyster farming is an aquaculture (or mariculture) practice in which oysters are bred and raised mainly for their pearls, shells and inner organ tissue, which is eaten. Oyster farming was practiced by the ancient Rome, ancient Romans as early as t ...
*
Oyster festival An oyster festival is a food festival centered on the oyster. There are a number of oyster festivals worldwide, including the following: Australia * The Brisbane Water Oyster Festival — Woy Woy, New South Wales * Narooma, New South Wales &md ...


References


External links

* * * * * {{Edible molluscs, state=collapsed List Molluscs, List Of Edible