How do clams breathe?
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer:
Clams breathe through their gills, which extract oxygen from water.
Explanation:
Clams are aquatic animals that live in both freshwater and marine environments. To survive, they need oxygen just like other living organisms. Instead of lungs, clams have specialized structures called gills. These gills serve the primary function of gas exchange, allowing the clam to breathe.
Water enters the clam’s body through an opening called the incurrent siphon. As the water flows into the clam, it passes over the gills. The gills have a large surface area and are lined with thin membranes filled with blood vessels. When water flows over the gills, oxygen dissolved in the water diffuses across the membranes and into the blood. At the same time, carbon dioxide, which is a waste gas produced by the clam’s body, moves from the blood into the water to be expelled.
The oxygen-rich blood is then circulated throughout the clam’s body to support its metabolic processes. After passing over the gills, the water exits the clam through another opening called the excurrent siphon. This flow of water through the clam is continuous and helps to keep the gills supplied with fresh oxygen.
The process of breathing in clams is closely tied to their feeding. As the gills filter oxygen, they also trap tiny food particles such as plankton and detritus from the water. These particles are then transported to the mouth for digestion. Thus, the gills have a dual role in respiration and feeding.
Clams do not actively breathe in the way that mammals do. Instead, their breathing depends on the movement of water through their body, which may be aided by cilia or by opening and closing their shells to create water flow. This simple yet effective system allows clams to survive while buried in sand or mud at the bottom of aquatic environments.