List of edible molluscs


This is a partial list of edible molluscs. Molluscs are a large phylum of invertebrate animals, many of which have shells. Edible molluscs are harvested from saltwater, freshwater, and the land, and include numerous members of the classes Gastropoda, Bivalvia, Cephalopoda, and Polyplacophora.
Many species of molluscs are eaten worldwide, either cooked or raw. Some mollusc species are commercially exploited and shipped as part of the international trade in shellfish; other species are harvested, sold and consumed locally. Some species are collected and eaten locally but are rarely bought and sold. A few species of molluscs are not commonly eaten now, but were eaten in historical or prehistoric times.
The list is divided into marine and non-marine species, and within those divisions, the lists are primarily arranged taxonomically, so that related species are grouped together.

Marine species

Gastropods (snails)

These sea snails are edible; some are listed by genus, others by species and others by their common name.
Most species of abalone, including:
Many species of true limpets, including:Cellana exarataCellana sandwicensisPatella caeruleaPatella ferrugineaPatella rusticaPatella ulyssiponensisPatella vulgata
Many species of winkles, including:Austrolittorina antipodum
Many species of conchs, including:Lobatus gigasLaevistrombus canarium
Some murex species, including:Chorus giganteusConcholepas concholepas
Some top shell species, including:Turbo bruneusTurbo cornutusTurbo intercostalisTurbo sazaeTectus niloticus
Many species of whelks, Buccinidae, including:
Other sea snail groups:Bullacta exarata, a bubble snailAmphibola crenata, an air-breathing mud snail

Bivalves (clams etc.)

Note that the common names of edible bivalves can be misleading, in that not all species known as "cockles" "oysters", "mussels", etc., are closely related.
Ark clams, including:
Many species of true mussels, family Mytilidae, including:
Many species of Pen shell including:
Many species of true oysters, including:
Many species of true cockles, including:Clinocardium nuttalliiCerastoderma edule
Many species of scallop, including:Argopecten irradiansArgopecten purpuratusPecten jacobaeusPecten maximusPecten novaezealandiaePlacopecten magellanicus
Many species of venus clam, including:Austrovenus stutchburyiChione californiensis
Many species in the family Mactridae, including:
Many species of razor clams Pharidae, including:
Several species of bean clams Donacidae, including:Plebidonax deltoides
Other bivalve species, including:Arctica islandica

Chitons (coat of mail shells)

Chiton magnificus

Cephalopods (octopus, squid etc.)

Many species of octopus including:Amphioctopus fangsiaoBathypolypus valdiviaeEnteroctopus dofleiniEnteroctopus megalocyathusOctopus cyaneaOctopus macropus
Many species of squid are used as food, including:
Some species of cuttlefish are eaten:Sepiadarium kochiSepiella inermis
Other cephalopods:

Non-marine species

Edible freshwater and land mollusc species include freshwater snails, clams, mussels and land snails:

Land snails

Freshwater clams