What Is the Sea Melon Seed? A Detailed Explanation of How It Differs from the Flower Clam
The sea melon seed, also known as the plum clam, black catfish, or convex-shelled musculus, is a common shellfish seafood found in outer beaches or tidal flats with higher salinity. Because of its delicious meat and high nutritional value, it is deeply loved by people. So what is the sea melon seed? And how does it differ from the flower clam?
1. What is the sea melon seed?
1. The sea melon seed, also known as the thin-shelled clam, is a shellfish seafood of the order Mytilida, subclass Pteriomorphia, family Mytilidae, genus Musculus, species Musculus senhousei. Its shell is small, thin and transparent, only about 2 cm long, triangular in shape, with a greenish-brown or yellowish-brown surface. From the shell apex to the posterior margin there are wavy or radiating patterns, and the inside is grayish-white. Through the outer shell, the color of the flesh inside can be seen. It generally likes to attach itself in mud and sand.
2. The sea melon seed, also called the plum clam, is a small white clam, named for its shape and size resembling a pumpkin seed. It is most commonly found in Weihai, Chaoshan, Shantou, Chaozhou and other places. In Guangdong and Guangxi it is called xian or xianzai, in Weihai it is called zhuier or Weihai yiner za, and in the Chaoshan area it is called datou xian. At present, it is a famous aquatic specialty of Cixi City.
3. The sea melon seed is a shellfish seafood with extremely high nutritional value. It is rich in protein, calcium, iron and other elements, and has the effect of regulating blood lipids, lowering cholesterol, and preventing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. It can have a certain auxiliary effect on hyperlipidemia, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular diseases.
2. What is the difference between the sea melon seed and the flower clam?
The sea melon seed and the flower clam are both shellfish, so many people cannot tell them apart. Let us take a look at the differences between the two below:
Difference 1, different family and genus: the sea melon seed is a shellfish seafood of the order Mytilida, subclass Pteriomorphia, family Mytilidae, genus Musculus, species Musculus senhousei; the flower clam is a mollusk of the order Venerida, family Veneridae, genus Meretrix.
Difference 2, different appearance: the sea melon seed is a small clam with a gray surface tinged with a little flesh-red. Its shell is small, thin and transparent, only about 2 cm long. The color of the flesh inside can be seen from the outer shell, and the entire shell is triangular, with a greenish-brown or yellowish-brown surface and a grayish-white interior; the flower clam has an elongated shell, about 3 cm, yellowish-brown or light purple, long oval in shape, with irregular speckled patterns on it, and a layer of glossy shell epidermis, with the inside of the shell light purple or white.
Difference 3, different distribution areas: the sea melon seed is mostly distributed in tidal flats of outer bays or islands with higher salinity, and is generally more common on tidal flats in the coastal areas of the north and south; the flower clam is mostly distributed in China's coastal areas and likes to live on the shallow seabed.
In general, the sea melon seed is the thin-shelled clam, or plum clam, a common shellfish seafood in tidal flats with higher salinity. It is small with a thin shell and likes to attach itself in mud and sand. Eating it can have a certain auxiliary effect on hyperlipidemia, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, although it and the flower clam are both shellfish, the two still have certain differences in family and genus, appearance and distribution range, so they are still quite easy to tell apart.