L. 13.1-3.6 mm., H. 10.5-3.1 mm., 8.5-1.6 mm. To create your own list of species, use the PDF Creator tool at the bottom of the Advanced Search page. Accessed [1/18/2023]. It is possible for the same individual to be observed and reported by more than one person. Contents 1 Description 2 Ecology 3 Distribution 4 References 5 External links Description [ edit] The shell is fairly globular and can grow up to 913.5 mm in size. These species have been recorded from the Ottawa River, which flows into the St. Lawrence River in Canada (Mackie 1976, Mackie 2000). Great Slave Lake) lakes in southern to central NWT.Population sizes can be large, Gerry Mackie, Dwayne A.W. Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with: Fingernail clam. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fingernail%20clam. Fingernail clams may approximate the size of a little fingernail but are usually smaller. For general information and questions about the database, contact Wesley Daniel. If any interruption in service occurs during non-business hours, please contact us and the problem States with nonindigenous occurrences, the earliest and latest observations in each state, and the tally and names of HUCs with observations. Freshwater Macroinvertebrates of Northeastern North America. 1997. Common Name: Swamp Fingernail Clam Scientific Name: Musculium partumeium (Sphaerium partumeium) Synonyms: Sphaerium partumeium Google image search Taxonomy Group: 1993). Zdeba. Peckarsky, B.L., P.R. A species may utilize the range Common Name: fingernail clam: Scientific Name: Sphaerium Scopoli, 1777: Name Published In: Scopoli, Giovanni A. Biologists have witnessed this hitchhiking phenomenon in the vernal pools of northern states. Waste products are expelled from the shell cavity via excurrent water flow. WebSphaerium corneum, also known as the European fingernailclam, is a very small freshwater clam, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Sphaeriidae, the fingernail clams. Trematode parasitism in the Sphaeriidae clams, and the effects in three Ottawa River species. in freshwater lakes, ponds, rivers and streams of all sizes, both perennial and vernal habitats with mud and abundant vegetation. 464 pp. The common toad (Bufo bufo) as a vector host of the bivalve Sphaerium corneum. To save this word, you'll need to log in. Fingernail clams are often one of the discoveries. The scientific name for this giant clam is Panopea Generosa. Does not occur in swamps, stagnant water, or temporary-water habitats.". Fingernail clams are mostly filter-feeders, siphoning in floating particulate organic materials ( small plant or animal) from the water column and straining out the particles and expel the strained water. Fingernail clams, also called pill clams or pea clams, are members of a family of small to tiny freshwater clams that are common but rarely noticed. Idaho Official Government Website. Fingernail clams, also called pill clams or pea clams, are members of a family of small to tiny freshwater clams that are common but rarely noticed. Like other clams, fingernail clams have two mirror-image shells that are hinged together, and the shells are generally rounded to triangular. View in other NatureServe Network Field Guides. - Recorded only from shores of Great Slave Lake.Population sizes can be large, diverse dispersal mechanisms for good potential to spread. Has been collected from ponds, lakes, and bays. 1980, Mackie 2000, Peckarsky et al. In fingernail clams, the shells are thin and fragile, often translucent, the outsides typically shiny, fairly smooth, and gray, tan, yellowish, or whitish. Grigorovich, I.A., A.V. Table 1. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York State. It also means that they are an early step in aquatic food webs, since they consume tiny suspended algae and other foods and convert it to the form of their bodies. Ormerod. (La Rocque 1967:295-296). The list of references for all nonindigenous occurrences of Eupera cubensis are W. H. 1977. Fourteen words that helped define the year. Sphaerium simile (Grooved Fingernail Clam) is a species of mussels in the family Sphaeriidae. To create your own list of species, use the PDF Creator tool at the bottom of the Advanced Search page. Pedal feeding from the bottom with the foot muscle has also been observed. Crepidostomum transmarinum, Bunodera lucipercae, Kipp, R.M., A.J. Like other clams, fingernail clams have two mirror-image shells that are hinged together, and the shells are generally rounded to triangular. It is native to the west coast of North America and its name is derived from the native american word meaning dig deep. Populations may not be currently present. Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database, The species is found in a variety of habitats, including small lakes, rivers, creeks, trenches, canals, and sandy shoals. Mackie, G. L. 2007. Mackie, G.L. Buy a License; Toggle navigation Buy a License Search Click it to build a custom PDF with species shown on that page or for all the species within that taxonomic level. Fingernail clams are small "mostly about the size of a finger or thumbnail" bottom-dwelling, filter-feeders found in ponds, lakes and streams throughout Montana. On the other hand, where the parental expenditure is low, but the numbers of offspring are many, mortality is high, but the odds of a few of them surviving to adulthood is also great (think of freshwater mussels broadcasting clouds of sperm and eggs into the water, and having little other parental investment beyond their bodies making and expelling the gametes). will be addressed at the beginning of the next business day. The habitats of fresh-water Mollusca in Britain. Pfeiffer - the ecology of freshwater bivalve molluscs in relation to water chemistry. Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database. Lepitzki, Robert Forsyth, http://ia902505.us.archive.org/3/items/malacologia131973inst/malacologia131973inst.pdf. 1976. 1984. Benson, J. Larson, and A. Fusaro, 2023. Statewide. Bishop, M.J., and H. DeGaris. Letarte, Y., and G. Vaillancourt. Petkeviciutie, R., V. Stunzenas, and G. Stanevicte. The vernal pools that some fingernail clams live in are famous for being important habitat for amphibians. General Description. Buy a License; Toggle navigation Buy a License Search Fraissinet, M.A. These shells can be quite fragile compared to introduced Asian clams of the family Corbiculidae, which have only been reported in Lake Elmo near Billings, Montana. Uptake and metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene absorbed to sediment by the freshwater invertebrate species Chironomus riparius and Sphaerium corneum. Sphaeriidae (a family of small freshwater clams) in class Bivalvia (bivalve molluscs). Accessed 18 Jan. 2023. The Greek sphairion In no event shall IDFG be liable for any special, indirect, The table contains hyperlinks to collections tables of specimens based on the states, years, and drainages selected. Sphaeriidae (a family of small freshwater clams) in class Bivalvia (bivalve molluscs) Fingernail clams, also called pill clams or pea clams, are members of a family of small to tiny freshwater clams that are common but rarely noticed. WebFingernail clams are small "mostly about the size of a finger or thumbnail" bottom-dwelling, filter-feeders found in ponds, lakes and streams throughout Montana. Freshwater Sphaeriid Clams* of Maine. (Burch 1972) records the species "throughout the United States and south into Mexico and Central America" and in "Canada from New Brunswick northwest to Great Slave Lake and Upper Yukon River." Their carapace takes the form of two brownish, hinged, dish-shaped shells, which they clamp shut when disturbed, so they look a lot like clams. The river fingernail clam has a dull yellow to brown, laterally compressed and rounded shell reaching a length of about .5 inches. They are native and can be quite abundant, providing food for a variety of animals and producing large accumulations of empty shells. Environmental Pollution 117:523-530. Fingernail clams, also called pill clams or pea clams, are members of a family of small to tiny freshwater clams that are common but rarely noticed. The dorsal shell margin is curved and there are low central beaks with straight edges on either side. However, the animal inside has jointed, shrimplike legs and bristly, feathery antennae, which itextends outside the shell and uses for swimming. 447 pp. Hydrobiologia 499:191-210. These shells can be quite fragile compared to introduced Asian clams of the family Corbiculidae, which have not been reported in Montana, yet. Different species have different habitat preferences. Names and dates are hyperlinked to their relevant specimen records. Names and dates are hyperlinked to their relevant specimen records. Introductio ad historiam naturalem sistens genera lapidum, Carlton, and C.L. This application is maintained during normal business hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Hinz, W. 1977. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 15(2):160-166. The narrow 4th and 2nd cardinal teeth are very close to parallel and the former overlaps the latter. Fingernail clams are mostly filter-feeders, siphoning in floating particulate organic materials ( small plant or animal) from the water column and straining out the particles and expel the strained water. The shell has distinct concentric ridges, or salculations, across its shell. Gerry Mackie, Dwayne A.W. No children of Herrington Fingernailclam (Sphaerium occidentale) found. Fingernail clams have got a long tongue-shaped foot, by using which they can move like a snail. The data included in the map are compiled by the Idaho Fish and Wildlife Information System (IFWIS) Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database. 1987. considered to be suitable for, legal, engineering, or surveying purposes. The scientific name of the clam was changed to Musculium transversum while the research was in progress. 74 pp 7 plates. Many people are fascinated by dinosaurs. Juveniles shells are more yellow. Many areas of the state have yet to be surveyed; the lack of an observation doesnt indicate the arising out of or in connection with the use or misuse of the information herein provided. Korniushin, and H.J. The shells are usually less than inch long. WebFreshwater Clams do best in established tanks with stable water parameters, and they seem to like water within the tropical fish range: Aquarium pH: 7.0 8.0; slightly lower is possible. Fingernail clams are mostly filter-feeders, siphoning in floating particulate organic materials ( small plant or animal) from the water column and straining out the particles and expel the strained water. Also, clams need calcium in the environment to build their shells, and limestone and dolomite provide it. "Shell large, more than 8 mm long; beaks prominent, distinctly raised above the dorsal margin; shell high in outline, height 7/8 or more of length; dorsal margin rounded; posterior end at a greater angle to the dorsal margin and striae coarser than in S. PARTUMEIUM. WebFingernail clams (Sphaerioidea) The fingernail clams are small fresh and brackish water mussels distributed worldwide. Lepitzki, Robert Forsyth, http://ia902505.us.archive.org/3/items/malacologia131973inst/malacologia131973inst.pdf. The larval fingernail clams remain in their mother/fathers marsupium until they are surprisingly large and well-developed, sometimes being as much as a fourth or a third the size of the parent. Shells of fingernail clams have only slightly raised ridges showing the growth pattern not a thickened shell with prominent raised ridges. Post the Definition of fingernail clam to Facebook, Share the Definition of fingernail clam on Twitter, Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. 1988. (La Rocque 1967). 1986. They are native and can be The Nonindigenous Occurrences section of the NAS species profiles has a new structure. Common Name: Pond Fingernail Clam Scientific Name: Musculium securis (Sphaerium securis) Synonyms: Sphaerium securis Google image search Taxonomy Group: Mollusc Dussart, G.B.J. The narrow and curved 3rd cardinal is parallel to the hinge plate and expanded and often bifurcate posteriorly (Clarke 1981, Herrington 1962, Mackie et al. Mills lake (1917: E M Kindle) and based on Canadian Museum of Nature records; Lives 1 year or less and produces few young in two to three broods per year. Journal of Great Lakes Research 19(1):1-54. 1962. Watson, A.M., and S.J. Journal of Great Lakes Research 10(2):197-209. depict range extent. Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database. Usually, these egg fragments didnt last long enough to become fossilized because mildly acidic conditions would dissolve the shells calcium before fossilization could take place. Hydrobiologia 48(3):195-197. Borchert, J., L. Karbe, and J. Westendorf. Fingernail clam From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Redirect page Jump to navigationJump to search Redirect to: Sphaeriidae To scientific name of a mollusc: This is a redirect from a 1995. Occurrences are summarized in Table 1, alphabetically by state, with years of earliest and most recent observations, and the tally and names of drainages where the species was observed. Trouble from the fresh water mussel (Sphaerium corneum Lin). They have tubelike siphons that draw water and tiny, drifting food particles into the shell cavity. Parasitology 129(6):771-778. The shell is covered in evenly spaced striae that become finer and fade out toward the beaks. Les Mollusques deau douce du Canada. Why? Pp. 1936. 2002. Accessed [1/18/2023]. Northern United States from Maine and Pennsylvania to Idaho; also in southern Canada from New Brunswick to British Columbia (Burch 1972). Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 36(1)49-56. Fingernail clams are small "mostly about the size of a finger or thumbnail" bottom-dwelling, filter-feeders found in ponds, lakes and streams throughout Montana. - Recorded from ponds, rivers, and small and large (e.g. Herrington served his church for 44 years in 10 pastoral Table 1. The section is now dynamically updated from the NAS database to ensure that it contains the most current and accurate information. A pair of flaplike, mucous-covered gills collects the goodies and channels them to the animals mouth, situated at one part of the gill. Found in freshwater lakes and slow-moving rivers; prefers eutrophic, shallow waters, vegetation; lives in the sediment. Around 20 larval fingernail clams, in various stages of development, may be present in a fingernail clams marsupium at any given time. Life cycle and distribution of Sphaerium corneum (Mollusca: Bivalvia, Sphaeriidae) in Lake Saint Pierre, St. Lawrence River, Quebec, Canada. References to specimens that were not obtained through sighting reports and personal communications are found through the hyperlink in the Table 1 caption or through the individual specimens linked in the collections tables. Hear a word and type it out. Dead Grooved Fingernail Clam form shallow marine sediment s. They have sexual A) Realized: In Lake Ontario and Cayuga Lake (part of the Lake Ontario drainage in New York state), S. corneum has been recorded as a host to the oligochaete Chaetogaster limnaei limnaei. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 58:158-165. Description. Lake Superior: an invasion coldspot? (La Rocque 1967) cites dimensions from various authors and collection sites in the following range: L. 15.5-3.9, H. 12.5-3.1, D. 7.3-2.5 mm (Note: D. not included for largest specimen). Here's some links if you want to download a whole group. Smaller shells, less than 8 mm long, may be distinguished by the fact that the striae fade out in the region of the beaks; the posterior end and dorsal margin are rounded or form an obtuse angle; and the posterior end of the shell is truncate, the beaks swollen." Buy a License; Toggle navigation Buy a License Search Hear a word and type it out. Seasonal Trapping/Hunting Report for Furtakers, General Season Deer and Elk Tags Available, Unclaimed / Leftover Controlled Hunt Tags, Duplicate Hunter/Bowhunter/Trapper Education Certificate, Idaho Fish and Wildlife Information System, Natural Heritage Program Technical Reports, Vintage Posters, Prints and Stamps for Sale. "A few unborn young of different sizes are present in most adults." These shells can be quite fragile compared to introduced Asian clams of the family Corbiculidae, which have not been reported in Montana, yet. This seems to be the way these clams came to inhabit so many vernal pools long ago. Fine growth lines are often visible, but they are not strongly raised, ridged, or rough. 1996. Naturaliste Canadien (Quebec) 115(1):65-76. The many calcium-rich clam shells buffered the water, preventing it from becoming acidic, and preventing the dissolution of the egg fragments. Korniushin, D.K. A revision of the Sphaeriidae of North America (Mollusca: Pelecypoda). The data represented on this site vary in accuracy, scale, completeness, extent of coverage and origin. MacIsaac. Citation information: U.S. Geological Survey. B) Potential: S. corneum hosts such digenean species as Crepidostomum transmarinum, Bunodera lucipercae, and Phyllodistomum simile in North America. Idaho Official Government Website. Sphaeriidae is a family of small to minute freshwater bivalve molluscs in the order Sphaeriida. EOL has data for 5 attributes, including: Known occurrences, collected specimens and observations of Grooved Fingernail Clam. 1997. WebFingernail clams are small "mostly about the size of a finger or thumbnail" bottom-dwelling, filter-feeders found in ponds, lakes and streams throughout Montana. where the species may live, disperse, migrate, breed, and/or hibernate. Environmental Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota 55804. 2000. Kipp, R.M., A.J. Apparently, fingernail clams can move from one isolated vernal pool to another by clamping on to a finger or toe of a salamander, frog, or other animal. Wider. The fingernail clams and other invertebrates in these pools are important parts of these fascinating, temporarily aquatic ecosystems. Click it to build a custom PDF with species shown on that page or for all the species within that taxonomic level. What a surprise to find tiny clams living in Missouri! Species distribution models (La Rocque 1967) includes Montana in range, indicates records throughout the United States (in almost every state), some in Canada. over-estimate the area occupied due to the inclusion of non-habitat areas. Both genera have joined mantle rims extended to form long tube-shaped siphons (see pictures). Contact us if you are using data from this site for a publication to make sure the data are being used appropriately and for potential co-authorship if warranted. Fingernail clams, being very small for clams, produce young that are surprisingly large considering their adult size. Nautilus 90:36-41. We highly recommend reviewing metadata files prior to interpreting these data. It is being provided to meet the need for timely best science. Salamandra 31(1):61-64. These creatures are vital links in the aquatic food chain, and their presence and numbers tell us a lot about water quality. created in house by intersecting verified or trusted observations with a hydrologic unit boundary to Fingernail clams are small "mostly about the size of a finger or thumbnail" bottom-dwelling, filter-feeders found in ponds, lakes and streams throughout Montana. Herrington, H.B. Adult freshwater mussels grow to much larger sizes than fingernail clams and have an asymmetrical, often oblong shape. Space as a limiting factor of a pond outlet dwelling Sphaerium corneum population (Mollusca, Lamellibranchiata). 1777. Remember that fingernail clams can fertilize their own eggs, so only one individual can start a population. Fingernail clams are able to fertilize their own eggs. Delivered to your inbox! Benthic macroinvertebrates as indicators of environmental degradation in the southern nearshore zone of the central basin of Lake Erie. Dispersal mechanisms good with records from maritimes to British Columbia and Northwest Territories. A species depicted range can We facilitate and provide opportunity for all citizens to use, enjoy, and learn about these resources. Citation information: U.S. Geological Survey. It seems to prefer muddy bottoms. 1979. Web Idaho Official Government Website. 1, More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary, Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes. Common Name: Lake Fingernail Clam Scientific Name: Musculium lacustre (Sphaerium lacustre) Synonyms: Sphaerium lacustre Google image search Taxonomy Group: Mollusc Penton, and D.J. Fingernail clams are small "mostly about the size of a finger or thumbnail" bottom-dwelling, filter-feeders found in ponds, lakes and streams throughout Montana. Then, they may be eaten by fishes, birds, and mammals that arent bothered by their small shells. It has also been recorded from ditches, marshes, puddles, muddy brooks, and larger lakes in Europe at an altitude of 1,300 to 1,400 m. In North America "it occurs in swamps, ponds, lakes, or streams on a firm bottom of fine deep or hard packed mud, fine gravel, and hard clay, in water up to 0.6 m deep; it has been collected in water with pH 6.4-7.64, fixed carbon dioxide ratio 9.3-18.87 ppm." We protect and manage the fish, forest, and wildlife of the state. Here's some links if you want to download a whole group. Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, Miscellaneous Publications 118. Water Temperature: 70 80 degrees Fahrenheit; slightly cooler possible. Malacologia 16: 421-455. Biologists point out that there are tradeoffs between producing rather large, well-developed young in relatively small numbers, versus tiny, undeveloped young in masses: In the animal kingdom, both strategies can be effective. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the information. For problems and technical issues, contact Matthew Neilson. Mackie, G.L., D.S. responsibility for any errors, omissions, or positional accuracy, and therefore, there are no 144 pp. Fingernail clams, like most other bivalve molluscs, are filter feeders that remove suspended organic materials from water: algae, tiny planktonic animals, plant and animal detritus, and so on. In the US, they are commonly known as pea clams or fingernail clams. as pea clams (Pisidium). Fingernail clams are found in a variety of aquatic habitats, usually in places with mucky or sandy substrates, and usually at or just under the bottom substrate. Pedal feeding from the bottom with the foot muscle has also been observed. I went to the ______ store to buy a birthday card. 2003. Data submitted can include observations where the observer questioned their ability to correctly An old-fashioned rule we can no longer put up with. WebCommon Name: Long Fingernail Clam Scientific Name: Musculium transversum (Sphaerium transversum) Synonyms: Musculium transversum Google image search Taxonomy Group: Mollusc (Freshwater Bivalve) Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Bivalva (Freshwater) Order: Veneroida Family: Sphaeriidae References: B100 General WebKey Characteristics. Heinonen, Jari, J Kukkonen, O-P Penttinen, and IJ Holopainen. It is the user's responsibility to use these data consistent with their intended purpose and within stated limitations. Occurrences are summarized in Table 1, alphabetically by state, with years of earliest and most recent observations, and the tally and names of drainages where the species was observed. They are native and can be Lawrence, P.A. Most fingernail clams belong to the genera Sphaerium and Musculium. Fingernail clams occur in a variety of aquatic habitats, usually in places with mucky or sandy substrates, and usually at or just under the bottom substrate. Davies, M.A.M. Some types of fingernail clams will also crawl around on submerged aquatic plants or other objects, using their muscular foot. at the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) is comprised of animal and plant observations from Long Fingernailclam (Musculium transversum) | Idaho Fish and Game Skip to main content Idaho Official Government Website Buy a License Toggle navigationBuy a LicenseSearch Species ranges included on the Idaho Species Catalog originate from a variety of sources. American Malacological Bulletin 5(1):41-48. Shell large, more than 8 mm long; beaks not prominent, only very slightly raised above the dorsal margin; shell more or less rectangular in outline. Taxonomic scope Pea or Fingernail Clams (Sphaeriidae) Family Sphaeriidae Pea Clams Methodology Method steps Contacts Jim Kellogg Originator biologist VTDEC Vermont United States of America https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=kellogg-jim-kellogg-a4a499132 Michael Lew View in other NatureServe Network Field Guides. Asian clam is a small light-colored bi-valve mollusk about the size of a fingernail. [2023]. Krieger, K.A. Here's some links if you want to download a whole group. are created to identify suitable habitat within their range and are not displayed on this map. identify the species. Verrengia Guerrero, N.R., M.G. Fingernail clams are filter feeders that remove suspended organic materials from water, so they tend to clarify the water. The data represented on this site vary in accuracy, scale, completeness, extent of coverage and origin. https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?speciesID=131 Lighting: Standard community tank lighting. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, Florida. The shell is finely striated near the low and somewhat pointed beak, becoming coarsely and unevenly striated toward the ventral margin. Fingernail clams, also called pill clams or pea clams, are members of a family of small to tiny freshwater clams that are common but rarely noticed. Because without limestone or dolomite rocks to buffer (raise the pH of) the soil and water, the decaying leaves and other organic materials on the floor of the woods would tend to make the environment somewhat acidic and an acidic environment would either damage the clams fragile shells or prevent them from forming at all. (La Rocque 1967). Taylor, N.A. (https://idfg.idaho.gov/species). Biodiversity and Conservation 14(9):2207-2220. Seems to have a preference for muddy bottoms among weeds and algae. The list of references for all nonindigenous occurrences of Sphaerium corneum are found here. Species Profile - Asian Clam ( Corbicula fluminea), National Invasive Species Information Center, United States National Agricultural Library. Lists general information and resources for Asian Clam. more species observation within that area. These fascinating animals are related to fairy shrimp, water fleas, and tadpole shrimp. Nonindigenous Freshwater Organisms: Vectors, Biology and Impacts. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the information. 1980. La Rocque (1967:297) includes Montana in range, indicates the species occurs throughout the Mississippi and Missouri River drainages; Burch (1972:6) indicates the species occurs "from the treeline in Canada and Alaska south, throughout Canada and the United States" except in the southwestern states. Edwards, K. Simkiss, and E.A. It has not been found in ponds, lagoons, bog ponds, swamps or other stagnant water, one source suggests that these habitats do not have sufficient current to oxygenate the water. Cytogenetic and sequence comparison of adult Phyllodistomum (Digenea: Gargoderidae) from the three-spined stickleback with larvae from two bivalves. Some are Missouri's streams, lakes, and other aquatic habitats hold thousands of kinds of invertebrates worms, freshwater mussels, snails, crayfish, insects, and other animals without backbones. Fingernail clams are small "mostly about the size of a finger or thumbnail" bottom-dwelling, filter-feeders found in ponds, lakes and streams throughout Montana.