The morphometric characteristics of corbicula fluminea (Asian clam) from Kelantan and Terengganu

Asian Clam or Corbicula fluminea is a species of freshwater clam and classified under aquatic bivalve, that originated from Asia fresh water. Asian Clam is also locally known as “etak” and being one of the popular food sources or snack in Kelantan, Malaysia. Currently, consumers claimed that this species is natively harvested from local water bodies and it was claimed as similar species. In consequences, this research project was done to determine the morphometric characteristics on C. fluminea collected from seven different locations from Kelantan and Terengganu. A total of 15 measurements were taken using vernier caliper. A total of 210 samples were collected from seven location, each location were randomly taken 30 samples of C. fluminea. The data taken had been analysed for One-way ANOVA and hierarchal cluster analysis. Therefore, this research had determined that Marang showed the biggest among other location based on the external feature which is SH/SL 0.9852mm ± 0.05 and Jeli showed the biggest in term of its internal feature which is 0.6185mm ± 0.03 for LPAS/SL. Overall, Jeli were considered as the biggest cluster. In fact, the outcomes of this study will give an information of the sizes of Asian Clam which can be utilize for commercialization. Therefore, it may give a benefit to the Asian Clam’s future in terms of its quality as well as additional information to the people regarding of this species.