Sea shells! Everything you need to know about dynamic colorful Coquina Clams!

[@MaryHills-o3s]

Thank you for making the video on the coquina clams. My family and I used to go to the beach and I loved finding those clams. The colors of their shells amazed me. I remember one trip wanting to bring them home with me but my dad said no they would smell up the car. The video brought happy memories of those beach trips. Thank you for sharing with us!

[@natureatyourdoor]

You are welcome! Thanks for sharing that with me!

[@nataliearguello7851]

So cute, I remember as a young girl and baby , digging on st Teresa Florida beaches and watching those colorful little clams moving all over. So adorable, thanks for the video!!😅

[@natureatyourdoor]

Wonderful!🙂

[@theyregr-r-reat8035]

Love this channel. The intellect, the down-to-Earth speech, the ordinary answering of (the next logical question). Man, I would have ACED Earth Science, if this man was my teacher..!

[@natureatyourdoor]

Couldn't have a better compliment!

[@edrooks]

Thank you for the wonderful natural history lesson on a familiar and beloved species. I grew up in Trinidad and Tobago where we call these clams "Chip chip". They are common on the long sandy beaches of the Atlantic coast of Trinidad. People collected chip chips in buckets, left them in water in the bucket over night so they'd expell all the sand inside and then they would cook these clams. Learning about their livelihoods adds value to an already treasured organism.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Thank you for this great share on chip chips!

[@theyregr-r-reat8035]

WOW! I wondered if people ate them but didn't want to ask. Only due to myself; disliking that the first thing that humans seem to wonder is, "can we eat them"? It becomes rather sickening, after a while. Still appreciated the answer! TQ! :)

[@natureatyourdoor]

@@theyregr-r-reat8035 It is a delicacy in many countries!

[@oberham]

thank you so much for sharing your knowledge of these creatures! I worked a summer on the eastern shore as a teenager and always was fascinated by just how many coquinas there were

[@natureatyourdoor]

I too am always amazed by how they are in constant motion with the tides and surf!

[@jodydavison33]

I have loved to watch coquinas in the surf since I was a child, and often thought, I should learn more about them. They are so beautiful and fascinating. Thank you for this excellent video.

[@natureatyourdoor]

You are welcome Jody!

[@lovepoems6308]

I found them at Far Rock and was told they were sand fleas. Thanks to your imfomative video I am better educated. Thank you.

[@natureatyourdoor]

🙂 Sand fleas do behave in a similar manner.

[@smetlogik]

Jealous you have access to the mountains and beach, that's awesome. That van looks like a great place to sleep/hangout while on the road. Interesting about that castle.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Yep! We are loving the van and I am always grateful I can enjoy mountains and the sea!

[@ginafriend1690]

Hi Frank .. I've been there, seen them, but never looked them up to know info. Thanks. I'm sorry to be late. I was hospitalized for 2 & 1/2 weeks. I'll be recuperating for awhile now. Starting therapy soon! Take care!

[@natureatyourdoor]

Oh Gina! I noticed that you had no left a message. I hope you are feeling much better and therapy is successful. Walking as soon as I could after surgery has always helped me! I hope walkinig is not affected!

[@ginafriend1690]

@@natureatyourdoor Thank you. Frank. I have a walker for any distance I may need it for, including dizziness. Aneurysm.

[@natureatyourdoor]

@@ginafriend1690 thoughts and prayers! Get stronger everyday!

[@ginafriend1690]

@@natureatyourdoor 🤗

[@scottshumway3256]

Also see the Sandy Beach chapter of "Natualist's Guide to the Atlantic Seashore" (Falcon Guide) by Scott Shumway. Coquina are my favorite marine animals.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Thanks for share! They are pretty 😎!

[@natureatyourdoor]

Thanks for share! They are pretty 😎!

[@judyfinnegan6225]

Thank you soo very much frank! Learning something new again today! Take care now. Be safe.....GOD bless ya! 🙂

[@natureatyourdoor]

You are welcome Judy!

[@brianquilty687]

You have a lot packed into your travel van .... well done. Those are fascinating creatures for sure.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Ha! Yes. Very efficient.

[@mandyj.forgac6513]

Awesome information to relay to my son who is 3 but loves learning all things!! I love when I have answers so thank you!!

[@natureatyourdoor]

Happy to help! Text me his questions anytime if I may answer them for you! 💪👍

[@SarahSmith-cl3lu]

these are my favorites to find!!! thank you for the education!!

[@natureatyourdoor]

They are really great! And such a rainbow of colors!

[@elizabethjohnson8269]

Awesome! Thank you for sharing. I will be showing this to my homeschool group you use great terms like "indicator species". So much to work with and learn from here.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Awesome...send me questions any time...be glad to set up a live q and a with a group as well!

[@OMFPress]

My son wanted to know all about the little shells he finds at the beach. Now we know 😊

[@natureatyourdoor]

😄!

[@ritazimmermann2918]

Another great one!

[@natureatyourdoor]

Thank you Rita!

[@caru547]

Very interesting! Thank you!

[@natureatyourdoor]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@prestonw3878]

Awesome video. Thank you for sharing.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Thanks for watching!

[@dorothyharrington7791]

I love watching them

[@natureatyourdoor]

Yes! 🤩

[@M0kopuu]

I've seen these tiny clams on the beach but today I learned what they're called.

[@natureatyourdoor]

I thought there would be many viewers that would recognize or remember these from beach trips!

[@kingschild777]

Good information. One rarely hears about coquinas. I’ve grown up in beach towns where coquinas are plentiful. The name is pronounced ko-key’-nuh rather than ko-KWee-nuh, however.

[@natureatyourdoor]

@kingschild777 apologies on the mispronouncing! Ack! Thanks for watching and your gracious correction!

[@CarterKey6]

Going to Pawley’s Island in a few weeks so this is right on time

[@natureatyourdoor]

Ha! Awesome! Have a great time! Ck out the coquinas for me!

[@AntonioRobinson1]

Preciate the video at fort Morgan and wanted to know more about them !

[@natureatyourdoor]

You are welcome Antonio at Fort Morgan!

[@lauriedodd427]

Thanks for this video! I would love to know more about coquina clams (Donax variabilis)! Why are there areas along the beach with such a high density of coquinas, separated by areas where there are few? What factors influence their journey up and down the beach between low and high tides? I wish I could find an article or book that went into a greater level of detail about their habits and ecology - short of the scientific articles that are too technical. I love observing them on Chincoteague Island, Va. Are there any readings you can recommend?

[@natureatyourdoor]

I am equally fascinated but them just as you and want to know answers to same questions you have. While in Valencia last month I was served them as a delicious appetizer with a little olive oil and their natural flavor!

[@taissirizsiga2176]

Well it was nice to learn about them because they were grossing me out at the beach but now I don’t want to be at a beach that doesn’t have them

[@natureatyourdoor]

Yes! They are pretty cool and great indicators of clean water!

[@thatrandomdogperson323]

Can you open them?

[@natureatyourdoor]

If you "open" them they would be ripped apart and die. I am actually in Valencia Spain right now and last night had a plateful steamed with a little oil and garlic! Delicious little morsels!

[@botanicaltreasures2408]

These coquina clam look like gemstones.

[@natureatyourdoor]

They do!

[@amandastakeonit7402]

I just learned of mole crabs (not all about them but rather that they exist) I wonder if these two coexist or are on select beaches only. Thank you for an interesting and informative video, as always, Frank! ( Have I told you yet that my brother in law is named Frank Taylor...very common name)

[@amandastakeonit7402]

Didn't take me long to look it up and they do not coexist. they actually are more like Pacific vs Atlantic ( and Gulf area (Texas) ) I forgot to tell you that your van is so cool! If you walk along the beaches are you killing the animals or are they pretty tough?

[@natureatyourdoor]

I often see them on same habitats! I hope to do a video on them on my next trip!

[@blackbearhomestead]

Great to know it’s good to see them. I thought it may be the opposite.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Fascinating to watch!

[@bluesky70707]

Clams & Oysters are the ones that help clean our oceans 🌊

[@natureatyourdoor]

Amazing ecological functionality!

[@lindadavis5668]

Coquina soup. It is tasty.

[@natureatyourdoor]

😃that is what I hear!

[@nataliearguello7851]

I was also amazed by them and could sit for hours watching them. My parents called them periwinkle, but now I know that's incorrect, periwinkle are snails not these colorful delightful little bivalve clams😅

[@natureatyourdoor]

Yes! So cool watching them appear and disappear in every wave! Very active little guys!

[@bluesky70707]

.. save the clams

[@natureatyourdoor]

And in our rivers, too!

[@mk2mgs]

Ggyy.

[@natureatyourdoor]

😀