Black Clam

Subject – Environment

Context – CMFRI’s efforts to increase clam catch in Kerala’s Vembanad lake yield results

Concept –

Villoritacyprinoides, the black clam, is found in the backwaters of Kerala, mainly in Vembanad backwaters.
It does not show sex reversal or hermaphroditism.
It spawns twice a year.
A change in salinity is the most important factor that triggers spawning, while temperature is not a factor.
- The optimum salinity for spawning is about 10–12 ppt.

To know about Vembanad lake, please refer November 2021 DPN.