''Tegillarca granosa'' (also known as ''Anadara granosa'') is a species of

ark clam Ark clam is the common name for a family of small to large-sized saltwater clams or marine bivalve molluscs in the family Arcidae. Ark clams vary both in shape and size. They number about 200 species worldwide. The shells of ark clams are of ...

known as the blood cockle or blood clam due to the red

haemoglobin Hemoglobin (haemoglobin BrE) (from the Greek word αἷμα, ''haîma'' 'blood' + Latin ''globus'' 'ball, sphere' + ''-in'') (), abbreviated Hb or Hgb, is the iron-containing oxygen-transport metalloprotein present in red blood cells (erythrocyte ...

liquid inside the

soft tissues Soft tissue is all the tissue in the body that is not hardened by the processes of ossification or calcification such as bones and teeth. Soft tissue connects, surrounds or supports internal organs and bones, and includes muscle, tendons, liga ...

. It is found throughout the

Indo-Pacific The Indo-Pacific is a vast biogeographic region of Earth. In a narrow sense, sometimes known as the Indo-West Pacific or Indo-Pacific Asia, it comprises the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific Ocean, and the ...

region from the eastern coast of

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring coun ...

northwards and eastwards to

Southeast Asia Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical south-eastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of mainland ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. With an area of , Australia is the largest country by ...

Polynesia Polynesia () "many" and νῆσος () "island"), to, Polinisia; mi, Porinihia; haw, Polenekia; fj, Polinisia; sm, Polenisia; rar, Porinetia; ty, Pōrīnetia; tvl, Polenisia; tkl, Polenihia (, ) is a subregion of Oceania, made up of ...

, and up to northern

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the n ...

. It lives mainly in the

intertidal zone The intertidal zone, also known as the foreshore, is the area above water level at low tide and underwater at high tide (in other words, the area within the tidal range). This area can include several types of habitats with various species ...

at one to two metres water depth, burrowed down into sand or mud. Adult size is about 5 to 6 cm long and 4 to 5 cm wide.

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

It has a high economic value as food, and it is kept in

aquaculture Aquaculture (less commonly spelled aquiculture), also known as aquafarming, is the controlled cultivation ("farming") of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, mollusks, algae and other organisms of value such as aquatic plants (e.g. lot ...

. On the coast of

Zhejiang Zhejiang ( or , ; , also romanized as Chekiang) is an eastern, coastal province of the People's Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Hangzhou, and other notable cities include Ningbo and Wenzhou. Zhejiang is bordered by Ji ...

Province alone, blood cockle plantations occupy around 145,000 '' mu'' (about 100 km²) of mudflats. These clams are raised in the river estuaries of the neighboring

Fujian Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its ...

Province as well. Ruǎn Jīnshān; Li Xiùzhū; Lín Kèbīng; Luō Dōnglián; Zhōu Chén; Cài Qīnghǎi (阮金山;李秀珠;林克冰;罗冬莲;周宸;蔡清海),
安海湾南岸滩涂养殖贝类死亡原因调查分析
(Analysis of the causes of death of farmed shellfish on the mudflats in the southern part of Anhai Bay), 《福建水产》 (''Fujian Aquaculture''), 2005-04 The meat of this bivalve is served steamed, boiled, roasted, or traditionally raw.

Safety

Some sources of blood cockle may not undergo the

depuration Depuration of seafood is the process by which marine or freshwater animals are placed into a clean water environment for a period of time to allow purging of biological contaminants (such as ''Escherichia coli'') and physical impurities (such as s ...

process. Therefore, certain styles of preparation, such as the

poaching Poaching has been defined as the illegal hunting or capturing of wild animals, usually associated with land use rights. Poaching was once performed by impoverished peasants for subsistence purposes and to supplement meager diets. It was set a ...

commonly carried out in Shanghai, can leave many pathogens present.

Culinary use

Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic ...

, blood cockles are called ''kkomak'' () and are cooked and seasoned with

soy sauce Soy sauce (also called simply soy in American English and soya sauce in British English) is a liquid condiment of Chinese origin, traditionally made from a fermented paste of soybeans, roasted grain, brine, and ''Aspergillus oryzae'' or '' As ...

chili powder Chili powder (also spelled chile, chilli, or, alternatively, powdered chili) is the dried, pulverized fruit of one or more varieties of chili pepper, sometimes with the addition of other spices (in which case it is also sometimes known as chili ...

, and

sesame oil Sesame oil is an edible vegetable oil derived from sesame seeds. The oil is one of the earliest-known crop-based oils. Worldwide mass modern production is limited due to the inefficient manual harvesting process required to extract the oil. ...

. Kkomak (Tegillarca granosa).jpg, Unprepared ''kkomak'' (blood cockles) Kkomak (Tegillarca granosa) 2.jpg, Prepared ''kkomak'' (blood cockles) Kkomak-muchim.jpg, ''Kkomak-

muchim Namul ( ko, 나물) refers to either a variety of edible grass or leaves or seasoned herbal dishes made of them. Wild greens are called ''san-namul'' (, "mountain namul"), and spring vegetables are called ''bom-namul'' (, "spring namul"). On t ...

'' (seasoned blood cockles) In

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Gui ...

, blood cockles (local: ''kerang darah'') are quite popular food and are served as various dishes including boiled, deep fried or sauteed.

References

* Leung KF. & Morton B. (2003). Effects of long-term anthropogenic perturbations on three subtidal epibenthic molluscan communities in Hong Kong. In: Morton B, editor. Proceedings of an International Workshop Reunion Conference, Hong Kong: Perspectives on Marine Environment Change in Hong Kong and Southern China, 1977-2001. Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong. pp 655-717 * Liu, J.Y. uiyu(ed.). (2008). Checklist of marine biota of China seas. China Science Press. 1267 pp. * Huber, M. (2010). ''Compendium of bivalves. A full-color guide to 3,300 of the world’s marine bivalves. A status on Bivalvia after 250 years of research.'' Hackenheim: ConchBooks. 901 pp., 1 CD-ROM

External links

Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Editio decima, reformata [10th revised edition
vol. 1: 824 pp. Laurentius Salvius: Holmiae]
Gmelin_J.F._(1791)._Vermes._In:_Gmelin_J.F._(Ed.)_Caroli_a_Linnaei_Systema_Naturae_per_Regna_Tria_Naturae,_Ed._13._Tome_1(6)._G.E._Beer,_Lipsiae_ Gmelin_J.F._(1791)._Vermes._In:_Gmelin_J.F._(Ed.)_Caroli_a_Linnaei_Systema_Naturae_per_Regna_Tria_Naturae,_Ed._13._Tome_1(6)._G.E._Beer,_Lipsiae_[Leipzig
_pp._3021-3910">eipzig">Gmelin_J.F._(1791)._Vermes._In:_Gmelin_J.F._(Ed.)_Caroli_a_Linnaei_Systema_Naturae_per_Regna_Tria_Naturae,_Ed._13._Tome_1(6)._G.E._Beer,_Lipsiae_[Leipzig
_pp._3021-3910
Lightfoot,_J._(1786)._A_Catalogue_of_the_Portland_Museum,_lately_the_property_of_the_Dutchess_Dowager_of_Portland,_deceased;_which_will_be_sold_by_auction_by_Mr._Skinner_&_Co._(book)._London._viii_+_194_pp

Iredale,_T._(1939)._Mollusca._Part_I._Scientific_Reports_of_the_Great_Barrier_Reef_Expedition_1928-1929._5(6):_209-425,_pls_1-7

FAO_Profile,_including_production_figures_and_range
{{Taxonbar.html" ;"title="eipzig
_pp._3021-3910.html" ;"title="eipzig">Gmelin J.F. (1791). Vermes. In: Gmelin J.F. (Ed.) Caroli a Linnaei Systema Naturae per Regna Tria Naturae, Ed. 13. Tome 1(6). G.E. Beer, Lipsiae eipzig">Gmelin_J.F._(1791)._Vermes._In:_Gmelin_J.F._(Ed.)_Caroli_a_Linnaei_Systema_Naturae_per_Regna_Tria_Naturae,_Ed._13._Tome_1(6)._G.E._Beer,_Lipsiae_[Leipzig
_pp._3021-3910
Lightfoot,_J._(1786)._A_Catalogue_of_the_Portland_Museum,_lately_the_property_of_the_Dutchess_Dowager_of_Portland,_deceased;_which_will_be_sold_by_auction_by_Mr._Skinner_&_Co._(book)._London._viii_+_194_pp

Iredale,_T._(1939)._Mollusca._Part_I._Scientific_Reports_of_the_Great_Barrier_Reef_Expedition_1928-1929._5(6):_209-425,_pls_1-7

FAO_Profile,_including_production_figures_and_range
{{Taxonbar">from=Q11282677 Tegillarca.html" ;"title="eipzig
pp. 3021-3910">eipzig">Gmelin J.F. (1791). Vermes. In: Gmelin J.F. (Ed.) Caroli a Linnaei Systema Naturae per Regna Tria Naturae, Ed. 13. Tome 1(6). G.E. Beer, Lipsiae [Leipzig
pp. 3021-3910
Lightfoot, J. (1786). A Catalogue of the Portland Museum, lately the property of the Dutchess Dowager of Portland, deceased; which will be sold by auction by Mr. Skinner & Co. (book). London. viii + 194 pp

Iredale, T. (1939). Mollusca. Part I. Scientific Reports of the Great Barrier Reef Expedition 1928-1929. 5(6): 209-425, pls 1-7

FAO Profile, including production figures and range
{{Taxonbar">from=Q11282677 Tegillarca">granosa Molluscs described in 1758 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus