The mantle (soft animal tissue) within the clams shell is brightly coloured brown, green and/or blue. This is caused by microscopic algae known as zooxanthellae living inside the mantle which photosynthesise (make food) from sunlight and also the waste metabolic products of the clam itself.
The mantle (soft animal tissue) within the clams shell is brightly coloured brown, green and/or blue. This is caused by microscopic algae known as zooxanthellae living inside the mantle which photosynthesise (make food) from sunlight and also the waste metabolic products of the clam itself.