What Eats Clams? (29 Animals with Pictures)

Examples of animals that eat clams include alligators, black bears, catfish, crabs, and crayfish.

The clam is a bivalve mollusk that can be found in both salt and freshwater environments. They are a popular seafood item, and are also consumed by many different types of animals.

Some of the animals that eat clams include shellfish, fish, birds, and mammals. Clams provide a source of food for these animals, as well as contribute to the health of their ecosystems.

Examples of Animals that Eat Clams

1. Alligators

Alligators are one of the predators that eat clams. They live in freshwater habitats such as marshes, swamps and rivers. Alligators use their strong jaws to crush the clam shells. They then eat the meat inside the shell. Alligators are opportunistic feeders and will eat whatever is available to them. This includes small fish, frogs, snakes, turtles and clams.

2. Atlantic Moon Snail

The Atlantic moon snail is a predator that eats clams. It is a large snail that can grow up to 8 inches in length. The moon snail uses its powerful foot to pry open the clam shells. It then sucks out the clam meat. Moon snails are scavengers and will also eat dead fish, crabs and other snails.

3. Black Bears

Black bears are omnivorous animals that eat a variety of foods. They are known to eat clams, but it is not one of their preferred foods. Black bears usually eat insects, berries, nuts, carrion and small mammals. However, if they are hungry enough, they will eat clams.

4. Blue Catfish

The blue catfish is a predator that eats clams. It is a large fish that can grow up to 4 feet in length. The blue catfish has a strong sense of smell, which it uses to find clams buried in the sediment. It then uses its sharp teeth to break open the shell and eat the meat inside.

5. Blue Crabs

Blue crabs are predators that eat clams. They are a type of crab that is found in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Blue crabs use their claws to pry open the clam shells. They then eat the clam meat inside. Blue crabs are scavengers and will also eat dead fish, crabs and other snails.

Related Article: Do Blue Crab Eat Lobster?

6. Brown Bear

The brown bear is one of the largest land carnivores. They are found in Europe, Asia and North America. Brown bears typically weigh between 200 and 600 pounds, but some have been known to reach weights of over 1,000 pounds. Brown bears primarily eat plants and berries, but they will also eat small animals, including clams.

7. Carp

The carp is a large freshwater fish that is found in North America and Europe. Carps can grow up to 4 feet long and weigh up to 55 pounds. They are omnivorous and eat both plants and animals. Carps are known to eat clams, mussels and other small aquatic creatures.

8. Channel Catfish

These fish are found in rivers and lakes across North America. They typically eat smaller fish, but will also consume clams if given the opportunity.

9. Cownose

The cownose is a ray that is found in the waters off of North and South America. It has a wingspan of up to three feet and can weight up to fifteen pounds. The cownose ray eats mostly bivalves, including clams. It uses its long, pointy nose to dig for clams in the sand. Once it finds a clam, it uses its powerful jaws to crush the clam’s shell.

10. Crayfish

Crayfish, also known as crawfish, are a type of freshwater crustacean. They are related to crabs and lobsters and are found in many parts of the world, including North America, Europe and Asia. Crayfish are typically brown or green in color and have a hard exoskeleton. They eat a variety of food, including plants, small animals and other crustaceans.

11. Crows

Crows are known to eat clams. They typically scavenge for them on the beach, but they have also been known to dive into the water to get them. Crows are very intelligent birds and have been known to use tools, such as rocks, to break open clams.

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12. Dolphins

Dolphins are known to eat clams as well. They use their sharp teeth to pry open the shells of clams. Once the clam is open, the dolphin uses its tongue to scoop out the meat. Dolphins consume a lot of clams, especially in the winter when other food sources are scarce.

13. Frogs

Frogs are amphibians and there are many different species of frogs. Some frogs are known to eat clams. The giant African bullfrog is one such frog. This frog is native to sub-Saharan Africa and it can grow up to 15 inches long. The African bullfrog is not only a predator of clams, but it will also eat small fish, lizards, snakes and rodents.

14. Green Crabs

The green crab is a predator of clams. It is a small crab that can be found in waters along the eastern coast of North America. The green crab has a diet that consists mostly of clams, but it will also eat other types of invertebrates, such as mussels and oysters. The green crab is known to be a voracious eater and can consume up to 10 clams per day.

15. Grizzly Bears

Grizzly bears are one of the largest predators that eat clams. They can weigh up to 700 pounds and measure up to nine feet in length. Grizzlies are omnivores, which means they eat both plants and animals. Their diet consists mostly of berries, nuts, roots and meat, including clams. Grizzlies usually catch clams by digging them up with their powerful claws.

16. Gulls

Gulls are a common sight on the coast and in harbors where they feed on a variety of prey, including clams. They are opportunistic feeders and will eat whatever is available, including small fish, crabs, mussels, worms and clams. Gulls have specially adapted beaks that are effective at prying open the shells of clams.

17. Humans

Clams are a popular seafood item and are harvested for food all over the world. They can be eaten raw, cooked or used in a variety of dishes. Clams are high in protein and low in calories, making them a healthy choice for many people.

18. Mud Crabs

Mud crabs are a type of crab that is found in estuaries and mangrove swamps. They areknown to feed on clams, mussels and other small invertebrates. Mud crabs have a powerful claw that they use to pry open the shells of clams.

19. Muskrats

Muskrats are a small, semiaquatic rodent that is found in wetlands all over North America. They are known to feed on clams, mussels and other aquatic invertebrates. Muskrats have sharp incisors that they use to pry open the shells of clams.

20. Octopuses

Octopuses are known to eat clams. They use their tentacles to pry open the clam shells and then they ingest the clam. Octopuses are able to extract the meat from the clam without damaging the shell. This makes them a very effective predator of clams.

Related Article: 10 Octopus Adaptations

21. Oyster Drills

Oyster drills are a type of snail that feeds on clams. They use their sharp teeth to penetrate the clam shell and then they eat the clam meat. Oyster drills can be very harmful to clams populations, as they can reduce their numbers significantly.

22. Raccoons

Raccoons are also known to eat clams. They use their dexterous paws to pry open the clam shells and then they eat the meat inside. Raccoons often wash their food before eating it and this helps to remove any sand or grit from the clams.

23. Rays

Rays are another predator of clams. They use their sharp teeth to crush the clam shells and then they eat the meat inside. Rays often hunt for clams at night when they are less vulnerable to attack from other predators.

24. Sea Otters

Sea otters are another animal that preys on clams. They use a rock to smash open the clam shell and then they eat the meat inside. Sea otters are very efficient at this and can often open several clams in a short period of time.

25. Starfish

Starfish are another predator of clams. They use their suction cup-like feet to attach themselves to the clam shell. Once they are attached, they use their stomach to secrete digestive enzymes that dissolve the clam’s body. The starfish then ingests the clam.

Related Article: What Eats Starfish?

26. Sunfish

Sunfish are a type of fish that is known to eat clams. They use their mouth to suck the clam out of its shell. Sunfish are able to consume the entire clam, shell and all.

27. Tautogs

Tautogs are a type of fish that is known to eat clams. They use their sharp teeth to break open the clam shell. Once the shell is open, they use their tongue to pull the clam meat out of the shell.

28. Walruses

Walruses are large marine mammals that live in the Arctic. They are known to eat clams. Walruses use their large teethe to bite open clam shells. Once they have opened the shell, they use their long tongues to extract the meat from the clam.

Related Article: What Eats Walruses?

29. Waterfowl

Waterfowl, such as ducks and geese, are also known to eat clams. They use their bills to pry open the clam shells and then they ingest the clam. Waterfowl typically eat small clams.

Conclusion

The animals listed in the article are some of the predators that eat clams. These animals include sea otters, brown bears, coyotes, alligators, moon snails and blue crabs. All of these animals have different methods of eating clams. Some use their claws to pry open the shell, while others use their sense of smell or sense of touch to find clams buried in the sand.

Garreth

Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.