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Science

Viral Video Shows Clam ‘Eating’ Salt Off Kitchen Table With Giant ‘Tongue’ — Here’s What It’s Really Doing

Jul. 11, 2012 9:04am Liz Klimas

Over the weekend, a YouTube video was posted showing what is believed to be proof that clams “like” salt. The experiment shows a clam sitting on a wooden kitchen table sprinkled with regular table salt. Soon, what many took to be the clam’s tongue emerges to take up the seasoning. Fascinating, right?

The hypothesis that if you put a clam on a table with salt and an organ resembling a tongue comes out to suck on the salt, then clams must like salt, seems to be supported if you take the video at face value. But not so fast. Many experts have since weighed in on the footage to set the record straight — or simply remind you what you may have learned years ago in high school biology.

Marine Biologists Set the Record Straight on Viral Video of Clam That Appears to Be Eating Salt Off a Table

(Image: YouTube screenshot)

Before we get into what is really going on here, watch it for yourself:

Business Insider, smelling something fishy with the assumption that the clam was lapping up the salt, asked marine biologist Hans Ulrick Riisgård from the Marine Biological Research Centre in Denmark about what was really happening.

“The poor clam on the kitchen table sticks out its muscular foot in a vain attempt to dig itself into the sediment where it normally lives,” Riisgård told Business Insider. “The salt on the table just sticks to the wet foot but is not eaten by the clam which is a suspension-feeder.”

Another marine researcher from the University of Sydney, Brian Bayne, is reported as saying the clam is really just trying to survive.

“This clam, stranded on someone’s floor, is trying to dig itself back home.”

The New Statesman (via Yahoo! News) has more fun facts on the clam gleaned from its own research:

Based on extensive wikipedia research years of clamology, I believe this to be a clam of the species Arctica islandica, commonly known as the Ocean Quahog, which can be found all along the east cost of the US. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, specimens have been known to live for 225 years.

The gills are really what clams use to feed on suspended particles in the water, whereas the mantel is what you saw coming out of the shell in the YouTube video. (Image: BlacksPVBiology)

Wondering how clams really feed? According to the University of California-Berkeley, clams, which are bivalve mollusks, are filter feeders. Clams open their shells and filter algae and other particles through “gills” as they pass through with the water’s current.

Image of clam dissection via BlacksPVbiology.

(H/T: Boing Boing)

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Comments (93)

3monkeysmomma
Posted on July 11, 2012 at 3:46pm
Liz,

Could you please make your next article “What goes through our minds here at the Blaze when we are sitting around smoking our “glacoma medication” and deciding what to write about”. Now that one I’d actually like to read.

thanks.

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- The-Monk
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 4:24pm
  That’s Debbie Wassermann Schultz with a hangover trying to lick up the leftover cocaine from the “Obamascare passed party”.
  
  Report this comment
- TheSurrealTruth
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 5:32pm
  Why so uptight? Not all news has to be doom and gloom, or even remarkably important. I was interested in the story because it looks fascinating. But, hey, I like animals. If you don’t appreciate the story, don’t click the link. Simple solution. No need to be rude just because they didn’t cover a story YOU wanted to read.
  
  Report this comment
- just a patriot
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 5:41pm
  @surrealtruth…. lighten up! I thought the comments were quite funny!
  
  Report this comment
- 3monkeysmomma
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 6:20pm
  @sureal
  
  ONE OF US certainly is uptight.
  I’m sure Liz isn’t crying under her desk from a little teasing….and if she is, she’s got bigger issues than me. Although, I’m sure it’s nothing that a good ducking-thinks-hes-a-kitty-cat youtube video can’t fix. Hey…there’s tomorrow’s article!
  
  Report this comment
- Stoic one
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 6:44pm
  SOooo COOL!
  I love these off the wall biology thingy’s…
  
  I find these to be fascinating tidbits that break up the tediously frustrating political news that I find to be SO important, even though I wish it were not true.
  
  The same is true for astronomy, physics, meteorology, chemistry, computers tech, military, engineering, and all science & techy stuff.
  
  Now ya all who do not like this stuff go take your sports seriously or enjoy it; and the society stuff also, ya know the Kim kardasian ,justin berber, brittiany spears and the like.
  
  Report this comment
- KickinBack
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 7:02pm
  I thought it was interesting, heck I’ve even learned something!
  
  Report this comment
- DoomsdayProphet
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 7:53pm
  3MonkeysMomma,
  
  Please stop whining. It would be greatly appreciated if you would open your pinhead so your brain might get a bit of exercise. Was an interesting article that had nothing to do with anything, except saving some clams from abuse and death, Who cares though right. Maybe there are aliens and they will take you out of your habitat. Make you lick something they season their food with. Wouldn’t that be interesting?
  
  Thanks.
  
  P.S. Good work Liz. Interesting and taught everyone who read it something.(Unless they are clam experts.)
  
  Report this comment
- 3monkeysmomma
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 8:02pm
  @Doomsday
  Get me some steam and and drawn butter and I will educate you about “clam abuse”.
  
  Report this comment
Linda Sue
Posted on July 11, 2012 at 3:19pm
A squeeze of lemon/lime juice “fries” them for eating like Sashimi. . . wouldn’t salt? He’s “frying himself” ! ! (I agree with the more educated, he’s trying to “dig”. . . . Granny L

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jiniz
Posted on July 11, 2012 at 3:18pm
So, it’s a clam snuff film. I’m just waiting for Rule 34 to kick in.

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- Gumbercules
  Posted on July 12, 2012 at 12:20am
  Wrong forum for that . . .
  
  Report this comment
teddyc73
Posted on July 11, 2012 at 3:13pm
Im convinced each successive generation is becoming dumber than the last. To think this poor clam is licking up salt is so ludicrous. The poor thing is just trying to survive.

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blair152
Posted on July 11, 2012 at 3:02pm
The only way I like my clams? Fried, and steamed.

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- stardawl8311
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 3:44pm
  that is two ways *giggle*
  
  Report this comment
- Whackajig
  Posted on July 12, 2012 at 5:53am
  How about hairy?
  
  Report this comment
- plutos_charm
  Posted on July 18, 2012 at 1:22am
  How bout drunken? GIGGIDY!
  
  Report this comment
wildbluyonder11
Posted on July 11, 2012 at 2:28pm
Why am I still here on this article?

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- mils
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 3:16pm
  yeah….exciting stuff…thanks blaze for this amazing non story..again…
  ..maybe Mitt should vet the clam…more interesting than what he’s up to…
  
  Report this comment
- 3monkeysmomma
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 5:21pm
  My thoughts exactly.
  If I want to see this, I can go to Youtube.
  
  Report this comment
- Mil Mom
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 6:27pm
  @mils
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 3:16pm
  
  yeah….exciting stuff…thanks blaze for this amazing non story..again…
  ..maybe Mitt should vet the clam…more interesting than what he’s up to…
  ***
  You should be on his vetting committee…lol
  
  Report this comment
lamarlamar
Posted on July 11, 2012 at 2:02pm
I’m an oyster man myself!

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- GIRTHMAN
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 2:19pm
  Baked with butter and garlic parmesean YUM I gotta go !!
  
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Justice_Gustine
Posted on July 11, 2012 at 1:56pm
might be obscure, but

Clams got FEET?

rip Johnny Hart

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- Stoic one
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 8:22pm
  Yes! one foot, just like snails….
  
  Report this comment
- its_time_to_arrest_our_government
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 9:48pm
  where are his shoes?
  
  Report this comment
- Poor Old Norm
  Posted on July 15, 2012 at 8:47pm
  Can a one legged clam do the “Hokey-Pokey?”
  and hey, I enjoyed the article and the video had me on the edge of my seat
  
  Report this comment
cranberry
Posted on July 11, 2012 at 11:40am
That is both sick and sad. Double that because you know nobody took it back home.

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- kindling
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 12:26pm
  and all that salt probably just made it that much sicker. I would worry about people that find this funny.
  
  Report this comment
- Goohuman
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 1:39pm
  All I see is self-seasoning seafood.;-)
  
  Report this comment
- FlamingFartSyndrome
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 1:55pm
  Its a clam. Who gives a fudge
  
  Report this comment
- Rosey
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 2:13pm
  I don’t care who you are…that’s funny!!!
  
  Report this comment
- Mil Mom
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 6:30pm
  @kindling
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 12:26pm
  
  and all that salt probably just made it that much sicker. I would worry about people that find this funny.
  ****
  As opposed to an appetizer!
  
  Report this comment
- Mil Mom
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 6:32pm
  @FlamingFartSyndrome
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 1:55pm
  
  Its a clam. Who gives a fudge
  ***
  Actually I think I prefer the fudge, make mine Walnut!
  
  Report this comment
- Spitha
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 7:32pm
  I agree Cranberry ~
  
  Report this comment
- Spitha
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 7:34pm
  I agree Cranberry, 8(
  
  Report this comment
- 3monkeysmomma
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 8:10pm
  I would totally eat a fudge covered clam!…and a bacon wrapped dougnut!…and a quater-pounder with cheese….D@mn, I shouldn’t have skipped lunch.
  
  Report this comment
- jaylew
  Posted on July 12, 2012 at 1:04am
  @kindling and cranberry …..clams are food….if your lives are so disturbed by the feelings of things found in Phylum Mollusca…..then I would submit just go up a bit on the food chain… a few branches up and then you might have a fighting chance of garnering support for the humane treatment of animals for example…if I were to discover you had Jewish friends who claim that the kosher slaughter of cows was actually a humane process in even the most remotely sane way……now that’s when you and i will join forces and put that stupid lie to rest. I really don’t care that Jews slaughter their cows and other animals according to their own ritualistic requirements….but you or anyone else would have to be the most easily deluded turnips on earth to allow any Rabbi or other Kosher style slaughter advocate to convince you that what they do cows is humane. If you slice a cows throat while it is held upside down and then you eject that blood gushing beast from that little upside holder and the beast struggles to get to its feet for that one last time…..and you or any Kosher jew finds that humane…. the only words then can be “utter nonsense.” Kill and eat your cows my Kosher Jewish friends…just don’t insult the decency of the word humane as having any part at all in that 2 thousand BC ritual….it is actually gruesome work done by blood soaked Rabbis so some family can claim Kosher instead of throwing up everything in their stomachs while watching each and every one.
  
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SageInWaiting
Posted on July 11, 2012 at 10:55am
To paraphrase God’s dietary laws: “Don’t eat my garbage collectors.”

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- RIDEMODELS
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 1:35pm
  Yep…..bottom feeder…..Like most politicians or lawyers….No Bueno….
  
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- Mil Mom
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 6:34pm
  @RIDEMODELS
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 1:35pm
  
  Yep…..bottom feeder…..Like most politicians or lawyers….No Bueno…
  ***
  You just totally destroyed my appetite for clam!
  
  Report this comment
BellaMia7
Posted on July 11, 2012 at 10:53am
That’s 2 minutes of my life I’ll never get back.

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thegoldman
Posted on July 11, 2012 at 10:47am
the clam is trying to move, you see the trails all the time while Quahoging.

It is not an ocean Quahog. Ocean Quahogs are black, this one is gray which is a shallow water type…

Maybe those experts should study a little harder !

Thank you,

from A New Bedford fisherman

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- 3monkeysmomma
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 5:24pm
  “Quahog”
  I’m writing that on down for Scrabble.
  
  Report this comment
ChiefGeorge
Posted on July 11, 2012 at 10:36am
And people like to eat them! Yuck!

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Conservative-Atheist
Posted on July 11, 2012 at 10:33am
Disgusting! I don’t know how anyone can eat a clam. I’m wondering…how does the anus taste? Barf!

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- TunaBlue
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 10:53am
  The anus tastes like chicken.
  
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- single stack
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 11:21am
  It tastes like azz.
  
  Report this comment
- garylee123
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 1:20pm
  Tastes like chittlins
  
  Report this comment
- jaylew
  Posted on July 12, 2012 at 1:35am
  Well if you would just turn it a little bit you could stay just north of that part & not have to worry about eating clam a$$…since your screen name has atheist in it…we will just keep this based in Darwinian science…the literal entire digestive process in most mollusks is rather unlike say mammals where what goes in the mouth as food is masticated and treated with enzymes there and then works its way down to the stomach area and subjected more disintegration by slight mechanical but most assuredly chemical processes that leaves of slurry of chemicals & nutrient sources..that can now be absorbed in a variety of ways & time frames as that material works its way out to septic system freedom. Mollusks although Darwin might argue have few of those same processes as they “feed” & then digest & expel their waste material. The Anus is a structure not specifically found in mollusks…in fact the “mantle” is the organ most mollusks breath with and also poop out of. Which means in human terms their poop comes out of the same place they breathe with….and that is indeed a rhetorically similar concept with some humans. Everything that comes out of their mouth is ****. You should try a clam or a mussel or an oyster someday…..they are delicious and a lot less trouble eating…..than arguing Darwinism at the dinner table with most any skeptic. So like I said….the next time you try a clam for dinner….and it tastes a bit like anus to you…just turn it a little bit.
  
  Report this comment
- Whackajig
  Posted on July 12, 2012 at 5:58am
  I feel sure Barney Frank can answer that question.
  
  Report this comment
- mwil5150
  Posted on July 14, 2012 at 8:14pm
  You eat them raw or cooked. A little shot of tobasco and lime will have you pointing your toes in no time.
  
  Report this comment
AmericanStrega
Posted on July 11, 2012 at 10:23am
ick

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GatorSkin
Posted on July 11, 2012 at 10:22am
Funny I thought this was the article about the new lesbian PAC!!!!!!

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- chips1
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 1:02pm
  It reminds me of something. I just can’t put my finger on it.
  
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South Philly Boy
Posted on July 11, 2012 at 10:11am
Clams… GOOD

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- rp454
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 5:03pm
  Fire…. BAD!!
  
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- 3monkeysmomma
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 5:26pm
  article…dumb.
  
  Report this comment
historyguy48
Posted on July 11, 2012 at 9:59am
Comrades, even if it doesn’t eat salt, it is tasty! Just pop it onto your barbie and when the shell opens its done cooking. Peel the shell back, dig it out, dip it in butter, and enjoy!
It’s a shame we can fix our coutries ills so easily.

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- RIDEMODELS
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 1:34pm
  If you put enough butter on anything its good…….They are bottom feeders like oysters and those kill people sometimes…..Not a fan of a clam anus…
  
  Is there really a bar there in Quahog called the Happy Clam??
  
  Report this comment
- rp454
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 5:05pm
  Only raw oysters kill people. MMMMmmmmmm Steamed clams with red wine vinegar and Old Bay!!
  
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CABERNETQHS
Posted on July 11, 2012 at 9:54am
Sad. I like to eat seafood. Never a big fan of clams,but nothing should be tortured. Kill it, eat it or let it go.

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ai4px
Posted on July 11, 2012 at 9:34am
Next week they’ll have a video of a duck that dances at the top of the hour…. because the cage is on a hot plate on a timer.

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krispy01
Posted on July 11, 2012 at 9:29am
One word – CHOWDA !

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cessna152
Posted on July 11, 2012 at 9:23am
I love RAW clams with lemons and cocktail sauce… not so anymore.

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salvawhoray
Posted on July 11, 2012 at 9:14am
go to youtube and look up “Monkey has sex with a frog” very funny.

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- Poggle The Stick
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 9:37am
  No way 0_0
  
  Report this comment
- Constructionist
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 10:00am
  That was wrong on so many levels…
  
  Report this comment
- Apple Bite
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 10:12am
  Then you’ll hate the Dog who “loved” Chicken…
  
  Report this comment
- chips1
  Posted on July 11, 2012 at 1:10pm
  Or the pelosi that loved the reid.
  
  Report this comment
Landon410
Posted on July 11, 2012 at 9:10am
how when i watch those stupid humane society commercials i’ll see skinny sick dogs with 3 legs, cats with only 1 eye, and a quahog clam on a kitchen table

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Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on July 11, 2012 at 9:08am
The next video will be showing how much slugs love salt and how fly’s dance when you pull their wings off.

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