Edible Molluscs
Edible Molluscs
Edible Molluscs
O F T H E P H IL IP P IN E S
A F IE L D G U ID E
Published b y the S E A F D E C A q u a c u ltu re D e p a rtm e n t
T ig b a u a n , Ilo ilo , P hilip p in e s
Common Edible Molluscs of the Philippines
The M olluscs com prise the largest w h ich serve as a m a jo r source o f
p h y lu m o f m arine invertebrates, w ith p ro te in fo r m any m illio n s o f people
over 8 0 ,0 0 0 species described (Barnes, (A b b o tt, 1 976), are becom ing a
1 974). T h e y are so ft-b o d ie d animals, p rim a ry focus o f those in vo lve d in
w h ic h , in m ost cases, secrete a p ro te c t m a ric u ltu re a c tivitie s. T h is fie ld guide
ive o u te r " s h e ll." T w o m a jo r is intended n o t o n ly f o r th e m , b u t also
classes o f m olluscs, the Bivalvia and fo r students, shell c o lle c to rs , travelers,
G astropoda (o r univalves), are covered and anyone interested in m olluscs and
in th is w o rk , as th e y co n ta in m ost o f h o w th e y b e n e fit th e people o f th e
th e edible and e co n o m ica lly im p o rta n t P hilippines.
species. Class C ephalopoda is rep
resented by the Cham bered N autilus. T h is w o rk consists o f a series o f
id e n tific a tio n sheets w h ic h co n ta in
Because o f the huge num ber o f
th e f o llo w in g basic in fo rm a tio n :
m olluscan species in h a b itin g P h ilip p in e
w aters (over 2 0 ,0 0 0 by some esti 1. Pen and in k draw ings and
mates) th is stu d y has been lim ite d photographs o f each species
to the m ost com m on edible ones 2. S c ie n tific classifica tio n
e xistin g on and aro u n d th e island o f
3 . C o m m o n names in English and
Panay in the W estern Visayas region.
P h ilip p in e dialects
T h is region was selected as repre
sentative because some species unique 4. B rie f d e scrip tio n of shell c o lo r
to the P h ilip p in e co-exist here w ith and fo rm
m any th a t are c o m m o n ly fo u n d
5. Ecological and h a b ita t d e s c rip tio n
th ro u g h o u t the In d o -P a cific (A b b o tt,
1979) and because Panay is located 6. C o lle c tio n a n d /o r c u ltu re
in th e geographic center o f th e P h ilip techniques
pines. T he species described here 7. M a rk e t price
are p rim a rily m arine, w ith a fe w
8. P reparation as fo o d
brackish and fresh w a te r varieties
in clu d e d . M arine species predom inate
S u p p le m e n ta ry o r unusual in fo rm a
in local d ie ts, p a rtly as a result o f the
tio n a b o u t each species is also in clu d e d
increased use o f chem ical pesticides
w here a p p ro p ria te . A ppe n d ice s cover
and fe rtiliz e rs in recent years in
ing m ore d e ta ile d in fo rm a tio n on fo o d
ricelands and fishponds, w h ic h were
p re p a ra tio n w ill be in clu d e d to w a rd s
once prim e habitats fo r m any edible
the end o f th e series. Those seeking
fresh and brackish w a te r species.
a d d itio n a l in fo rm a tio n a b o u t m olluscs
A s o u r w o rld becomes more p o l are encouraged to c o n s u lt th e f o llo
lu te d and populous, edible m olluscs, w in g lis t o f references.
1
N otes o n Presentation H in to n , A ., 1972: Shells o f N ew
G uinea and the C entral In d o -
1. O n ly the m ost co m m o n edible P a cific. T h e Jacaranda Press,
species o f the W estern Visayas are M ilto n . 91 pp.
presented and n o t all are o f co m
m ercial im p o rta n c e : m a n y are o n ly L u c ifo ra , D ., 1977: M arvellous W orld
co lle cte d b y b a rrio in h a b ita n ts near o f Shells. A b b e y L ib ra ry , L o n d o n .
th e ir homes (fo r use as pro te in 107 pp.
supplem ents to a largely ca rb o h y
drate d ie t) and are n o t usually S m ith , R .I. and C a rlto n , J.T ., 1975:
m arketed. Lights M anual: In te rtid a l In ve rte b
rates o f th e C entral C a lifo rn ia
2. A ll draw ings and p h o t ographs were Coast. U n iv e rs ity o f C a lifo rn ia
done b y th e a u th o r. Press, B erkeley. 6 8 4 pp.
Iso g n o m o n sp.
P h y lu m M o llu s c a
F a m ily M actridae
Class Bivalvia
M a c tra m era Deshayes
Subclass L a m e llib ra n ch ia M a ctra m a cu la ta L in n e
O rd e r T a x o d o n ta F a m ily S o lenidae
Class G astropoda
F a m ily O streidae
Subclass P rosobranchia
Crassostrea ire d a le i
Saccostrea sp.
O rd e r A rchaeogastropoda
F a m ily Placunidae
F a m ily T rochacea
Placuna p la ce n ta L in n e
Trochus n ilo tic u s Linne
T u rb o c h ry s to s to m a Linne
O rd e r H e te ro d o n ta
F a m ily A n g a riid a e
F a m ily C ardiidae
L a m b is la m b is Linne C y m b io la vespertil io L in n e
S tro m b u s aurisdianae L in n e
S. b u lla R o d in g
S. le n tig in o s u s L in n e Class C ephalopoda
S. lu h u a n u s L in n e
S. spp. Subclass N a u tilo d ia e
T u rrite lla te re b ra L in n e
O rd e r N eogastropoda
F a m ily C onidae
Conus le opardus (R o d in g )
Conus o m a ria Hwass
Conus spp.
Conus s tria ta
4
D iag ra m m a tic H e te ro d o n t Bivalve
5
F a m ily Pectinidae
6
Fam ily Arcidae also b ila te ra lly s ym m e trica l, whereas
th e shell o f A r ca a n tiq u a ta is fla re d
S c ie n tific name: A nadara granosa s lig h tly at the p o s te rio r end. I t is
Linne gathered a t lo w tid e b y b a rrio in h a b i
English name: A rk shell, " C o c k le " tants w h o sell it in the m a rk e t place
(used in Malaysia b u t w ith no fo r P 2 .0 0 /5 pcs.
ta x o n o m ic significance), B lo o d Clam
P h ilip p in e name: L ito b (Visayan) Since A . granosa is n o t o n ly cheap
H ala-an (Tagalog) and ta sty b u t rich e r in p ro te in than
m ost o th e r sh e llfish , its c u ltu re should
be encouraged as a means o f p a rtia lly
This greyish, heavily ribbed shell s u p p ly in g the increasing need fo r high-
belongs to the ord e r T a x o d o n ta , p ro te in fo o d s in S outheast Asia.
w h ich is distinguished b y th e ir num e (B ardach, R y th e r, & M c L a rn e y, 1972).
rous and sim ila r hinge te e th . T his m ollu sc is c u ltu re d e xte n sive ly in
M alaysia and w o rke rs a t th e U n iv e rs ity
o f th e P h ilip p in e s ' M arine Science C en
T he tru e L ito b is bigger and m eatier te r at D ilim a n have spawned it in the
th a n its L ito b -lito b cousins, and lives la b o ra to ry as part o f a program to
in th e brackish m ud fla ts instead o f in develop suitable c u ltu re techniques in
the ro c k y m arine e n viro n m e n t. I t is th e P hilip p in e s.
7
Fam ily Arcidae
9
F a m ily A niso m ya ria
10
Fam ily Cardiidae
11
F a m ily V e neridae
S c ie n tific nam e: C irce gibba Lam arck clam is fo u n d in the sand near the
E nglish nam e: Sand Clam seashore. T h e y are colle cte d fo r sale
P h ilip p in e name: B ugaton (Visayan) in the m arket at lo w tid e by b a rrio
Saropsaropan (Tagalog) in h a b ita n ts th ro u g h o u t the P h ilip
pines. T h e y sell fo r P 2 /5 0 pcs, and are
T h is small cream -colored m arine served b o ile d as an appetizer o r viand.
12
F a m ily O streidae
S c ie n tific name: Crassostrea ire d a le i m ore intensive and uses o yste r and
English name: S lip p e r o y s te r c o c o n u t shells strung on th ic k , n y lo n
P h ilip p in e name: Talaba (Tagalog, m o n o fila m e n t, suspended v e rtic a lly
V isayan), T ire m ( I longo) fro m h o riz o n ta l braces o r ra fts . Sabog
is th e tra d itio n a l m e th o d o f o yste r
Crassostrea ire d a le i has a generally fa rm in g w here hard , sm o o th objects
o vo id shape w ith irregular surface such as tin cans o r o yste r shells are
features and is grey and w h ite . It is scattered over a sandy, hard b o tto m
c u ltu re d e xtensively th ro u g h o u t the where spatfall is k n o w n to o ccu r.
P hilippines. T here are thre e main c u l W hile th is m e th o d is th e least la b o r
tu re m ethods c u rre n tly in use in th is intensive, it yields fe w e r oysters th a n
c o u n try . These include the tu l os th e o th e r tw o m ethods because the
(stake), b itin (hanging), and sabog area fo r spat a tta c h m e n t is lim ite d .
(broadcast) m ethods. T h e tu l os is In all thre e m ethods th e oysters are
s im ila r to th e b am boo sta kin g m e th o d ready fo r harvest in 6-12 m onths.
used in mussel fa rm in g , th e d iffe re n ce
being th a t th e stakes should exte n d O ysters are sold in the Ilo ilo C ity
a b o u t 1 m eter above th e lo w -w a te r m a rke t fo r P5 per g ro u p o f 15. T h e y
m ark fo r o yste r c u ltu re . T h e b itin is are e n jo ye d as an a p p e tize r o r viand.
13
Fam ily Donacidae
14
Fam ily Veneridae
15
Fam ily Isognomonidae
16
F a m ily M actridae
S c ie n tific name: M actra m aculata operators w a ist and pulled back and
L in n e fo r th along a section o f beach, o r b y
English name: S u rf o r Hen Clam tw is tin g ones' fe e t back and fo r th in
P h ilip p in e name: K agaykay (Visayan) th e sand, th e re b y unco ve rin g th e clam .
I f co lle cte d in th e a fte rn o o n , th e y are
These m arine clams are fo u n d on placed in a b u c k e t o f fresh w a te r and
sandy beaches in the Visayas, 2 to 4 k e p t alive u n til m a rke t tim e th e n e x t
cm below th e surface. T h e ir average m orning.
length is 5 to 6 cm and th e y vary in
c o lo r fro m yellow -cream to orange- T h e y sell in th e K a lib o , A k la n w e t
b ro w n . m a rke t fo r P 2 .0 0 /2 0 pcs.
Kagay-kay are harvested a t lo w tid e These clams are served in soups and
w ith e ith e r a rake, w h ic h is tie d to the as an a p p e tize r o r viand.
17
F a m ily M actridae
20
Fam ily M ytilidae estuaries and bays along the coast.
These farm s can have a d eleterious e f
S c ie n tific name: Perna v irid is Linne fe c t on th e ecology o f such an estuary
English name: Green mussel as s ilt fro m th e rivers builds up aro u n d
P h ilip p in e name: Tahong, A m ahong the stakes, decreasing the d epth and
(Tagalog, Visayan) hence the p ro d u c tio n area.
21
Fam ily Solenidae
black in c o lo r and range in size fro m
S c ie n tific name: Pharella acutidens 4 to 5 cm as adults.
B ro d e rip and S ow erby
English name: R azor o r Jackknife clam S olenid clams are filte r feeders
P h ilip p in e name: T ik -h a n (A k la n o n , and have an in h a la n t and exhalant
I lo n g o ), Bilaog (Visayan) siphon fo r ta k in g in fo o d and expe llin g
seawater. They use th e ir long,
T his fa m ily of clams occurs plun ge r-like fo o t fo r m oving up and
th ro u g h o u t the w o rld on sandy d o w n in th e ir sem i-perm anent b u rro w
beaches. T h e y are collected du rin g w h ich extends 15-40 cm in to the sand.
lo w tid e by digging w ith the hands I f dislodged fro m th is b u rro w , th e y
(o r an o ld bo lo k n ife ) in the sand can sw im very fast b y sh o o tin g w ater
w herever a slig h t hole or depression o u t one end o f th e ir shell.
indicates th e ir presence. T h e y are
sold in th e w e t m arkets o f A k la n and These clams are b o ile d in saltw ater
o th e r V isayan provinces fo r P5.0 0 /5 0 and served in th e ir ow n soup as an
pcs, unshelled. T h e y are b ro w n and appetizer o r viand.
22
Fam ily Placunidae
23
Fam ily Ostreidae
24
Fam ily Gariidae
25
Fam ily Teredinidae
26
Fam ily Nautilodiae
27
Fam ily Angariidae
S c ie n tific name: C onus o m a ria Hwass taken when ha n d lin g these and all
o th e r live cones.
English name: U n k n o w n
31
Fam ily Conidae
32
Fam ily V olutidae
33
Fam ily Cypraeidae
36
Fam ily Muricidae
purple co lo re d aperture.
S c ie n tific name: O cenebra sp.
English name: Hale-hale sells fo r P 2 .0 0 /2 0 pcs in
P h ilip p in e name: Hale-hale (A k la n o n ) the w e t m a rke t and is usu a lly b o ile d
and eaten as an a p p e tize r, o r if a b u n
T h is co m m o n snail is collected d a n t, fo r viand. The m eat is rem oved
fro m brackish w a te r mangrove swamps fro m th e shell w ith a p o in te d o b je c t
near fishponds th ro u g h o u t the V isa such as a p in , the th o rn fro m a local
yas. T he shell is d u ll grey, w ith a orange tre e , o r a sliver o f bam boo.
37
Fam ily Olividae
41
Fam ily Strombidae
42
Fam ily Strombidae
43
Fam ily Strombidae
S c ie n tific name: S tro m b u s spp. muscle. Hence the local name sikad-
sikad.
English name: S m all C onch
44
Fam ily Potamididae
45
Fam ily Trochacea
S c ie n tific name: Trochus n ilo tic u s com m on p ro te in supplem ent and are
Linne collected fro m coral reefs by local
English name: C om m ercial T o p Shell divers at high tid e .
P h ilip p in e name: A lin-susu (A k la n o n ),
Researchers at the M icronesian
A lip u lo s (B uruanganon)
M a ric u ltu re D e m o n stra tio n C enter in
Palau, C aroline Is., and th e U n iv e rs ity
M em bers o f th is fa m ily o f gastro o f H aw aii have fo u n d th a t these
pods live on algae-strewn ocean b o t m olluscs are q u ite easy to spawn and
to m s and on coral reefs th ro u g h o u t raise (n a tu ra lly occurring algae in o u t
SE A sia and the P a cific at depths o f d o o r rearing tanks precludes any
3 to 7 fa th o m s. The flesh is succu le nt necessity fo r supplem ental feeding)
and the nacreous shell is made in to fo r reseeding coral reefs w ith over
pearly b u tto n s , su p p o rtin g cottage fished natural stocks. T his te ch n o lo g y
industries in some areas. c o u ld be adapted to P h ilip p in e co n
d itio n s to the b e n e fit o f local in h a
In n o rth w e ste rn Panay, th e y are a b itants.
46
Fam ily Trochacea
47
Fam ily Turitellidae
48
SHELL RECIPES
E A M H A Y is a basic in g re d ie n t in a and p a la ta b ility o f th e dish.
vegetable dish and is o fte n referred to
as fis h , m eat, ch icke n , shrim ps, or
Tahong Soup
m olluscs. When shells are used as
"e a m h a y " fo r squash and o th e r
Ingredients:
vegetables th e shells m ust be cooked
w ith the vegetables to enhance th e
1 piece o f ginger sliced th in
fla v o r (besides th e seasonings).
3 cloves o f g a rlic, p ounded
1 o n io n , chopped
G IN A M U S nga abahong is prepared
2 pieces to m a to e s, chopped
by shelling the m ollu sc then salting
1 lite r unshelled T a hong (green mussel)
th e meat o r flesh. I t takes fr o m seven
dash o f pepper and salt
t o te n days a fte r salting to serve th e
f u ll ripened ginamus. P ro p o rtio n :
P re p a ra tio n :
use 4 measures o f abahong to one o f
salt. A n y m o llu sc m ay be used. 1. Clean T a h o n g shells w ith a b ru sh ,
set aside.
P IN A Y U K A N is a general te rm fo r
dishes prepared w ith c o c o n u t m ilk , 2. Saute garlic, o n io n , to m a to e s and
be i t w ith vegetables, fis h , ch icke n , ginger.
o r shells o r in c o m b in a tio n . H o w to
3 . A d d a cup o f w a te r, b rin g t o a b o il;
prepare c o c o n u t m ilk o r p in a yuka n :
4 . A d d T a hong and season.
1. Use f u lly m atured c o co n u t.
2. G rate th e n u t m eat ve ry fin e . 5 . Remove fro m fire w hen th e shells
open. O verco o ke d shells make
3 . T o every n u t grated add a b o u t to u g h m eat.
½ c u p w a te r; w o rk w ith th e hands
to fa c ilita te e x tra c tio n o f th e th ic k 6 . Serve T a hong as soup.
o r ric h m ilk . S tra in th ro u g h w ire
stra in e r to separate th e m eat fro m
th e m ilk ; set aside. Cold Rice Salad w ith Seafood
and Vegetables
4 . Repeat the process o f e x tra c tio n
b y adding a b o u t one cu p w a te r to
In gredients:
th e c o c o n u t; stra in . T h is is k n o w n
as th e second e x tra c tio n o r th in c o ld poached T a h o n g , abahong, e tc.
e x tra c tio n . I t is used to c o o k th e
s h rim p
vegetables w ith th e seasonings and
m arinated m ushroom s
th e shells.
leeks
5. In th e last fe w m inutes o f c o o k in g p im ie n to s
tim e the rich m ilk o r fir s t e x tra c t in y peas w it h rice
tio n is added; set to b o il a fe w ce le ry and parsley, plus d ill, th y m e
m inutes. Seasoning is th e last o r oregano fo r seasoning
a d d itio n , to im prove th e taste V in a ig re tte salad dressing
49
P re p a ra tio n : P re p a ra tio n :
50
L IS T O F S C IE N T IF IC N A M E S
L IS T O F P H IL IP P IN E N A M E S
51
G LO SSAR Y
52
overlays the e x te rio r o f th e shell w h ic h is also th e p o in t o f o rig in o f
in m any species and, lik e th e shell, g ro w th .
is secreted and shaped b y th e fle sh y
m antle o f th e anim al. U m b o : th e apex o r p o in t fr o m w h ic h
g ro w th o f th e valves com m ences,
P o s te rio r: refers in bivalves to th e h a lf hence it is the o ld e st p a rt o f th e
o f th e shell c o n ta in in g th e hinge; in shell.
gastropods i t is th e area w here th e
apex o r spire is located. V e n tra l: in bivalves, th e side o f th e
shell op p o site th e hinge. c.f.
S p ire : in gastropods, th e p o in te d end dorsal.
53
Acknowledgements
54
About the Author
R ichard L . E dwards is c u rre n tly M r. E dw ards' in te re st in edible
w o rk in g as a U.S. Peace C orps V o lu n m olluscs arose fro m his w o rk w ith
te e r in B atan, A k la n , Panay Island, mussel farm ers and fr o m his expe
w here he serves as a technical advisor rience liv in g in an im poverished
f o r fis h p o n d and mussel fa rm projects. coastal b a rrio in B atan w here he
H is te rm o f service w ill be co m pleted fo u n d th a t live m olluscs colle cte d
in A u g u st o f 1981. fro m th e beaches, ro c k y in te rtid a l
zones and fish p o n d s near his home
P rio r t o his Peace C orps assignment, were u tiliz e d e xte n sive ly as a p ro te in
he received a B.S. in B io lo g y source fo r th e fa m ilie s in th e area.
(em phasizing m arine b io lo g y and eco His travels th ro u g h o u t th e coastal
logy) fr o m the U n iv e rs ity o f O regon areas o f Panay as w e ll as extensive
in Eugene, O regon. He spent one te rm dialogues w ith o th e r m a ric u ltu re w o r k
a t th e O regon In s titu te o f M arine ers c o n firm e d fo r h im th a t m olluscs
B io lo g y in C harleston, O regon s tu d y are an im p o rta n t p ro te in source in
ing inve rte b rate zo o lo gy and w o rk e d th e P h ilip p in e s and th a t a fie ld guide
fo r n in e m o n th s researching the to these anim als w o u ld be o f in te re st
c u ltu re o f T ilapia spp. in a solar to m a ric u ltu re scientists lo o k in g fo r
greenhouse. He also w o rk e d fo r a new species to raise in c a p tiv ity ,
s h o rt tim e as a b iological aide in a stu d e n ts, shell co lle c to rs , and others
large salm on ha tch e ry in S p rin g fie ld , w ith a general c u rio s ity a b o u t m olluscs
O regon. and h o w th e y are u tiliz e d b y the
F ilip in o people.
55