''Meretrix lyrata'', the lyrate Asiatic hard clam, also known simply as the hard clam ( vi, Nghêu Bến Tre), is an edible saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusc in the family

Veneridae 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 ...

, the Venus clams. This species occurs along the coasts of

Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...

, the

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

and South China.

Right and left valve of the same specimen: File:Meretrix lyrata 01.jpg, Right valve File:Meretrix lyrata 02.jpg, Left valve

Culinary use

In Vietnam, these hard clams are eaten boiled, steamed or roasted. They are an important export in the eastern and southern parts of Vietnam. Fisheries Informatic Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam. Retrieved May 25, 2008.

References

* Reid, Shannon (2003). OBIS Indo-Pacific Molluscan Database, Academy of Natural Sciences. * * {{Taxonbar, from=Q1056755 Veneridae Bivalves described in 1851