How Do Shellfish Move About?

Shellfish have a kind of foot. The spiral shell's foot is broad and gives off slime as it moves along. The short-necked clam, the true clam and some other shellfish have a foot shaped like and axe. They use their foot to dig into the sand or mud. Bivalves and spiral shells have a muscular organ called a foot or leg. They use it to crawl and to burrow into the sand. If a starfish or other enemy attacks, a bivalve escapes by kicking out with its leg or by closing its shell, shooting out a stream of water and swimming away. Along rocky shores where waves are rough, some shellfish attach themselves to rocks or ledges and remain there for the rest of their lives. Some shellfish can swim, and some can even jump.