https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/203528424
I have been in love with these little pink shells my whole life. They are so cute and such a beautiful pink, and they have always caught my eye. The scientific name is Baltic Macoma, but it is more commonly known has the the Tiny Pink Clam (Fretwell and Starzomski).
The Wikipedia article "Limecola Balthica" says their shells are ovular in shape, smooth, and no bigger than 30 mm long. Even though I took a picture of and am talking about the pink ones, they also come in many other colors, such as "pink, purple, yellow, white and may be blackened in sulphide-rich sediments" (Budd and Rayment).
The Tiny Pink Clams live buried in the mud and silt, with their two siphons extended to feed on organic matter (Limecola Balthica). This same article also states that these clams are "capable of living in a wide range of water salinity" and they usually live in intertidal zones, estuaries and bays.
These clams live all over the world, "from temperate to arctic coastal waters in both the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans" (Budd and Rayment)
There is little to no information on the human uses of this clam. All I could find is that they are "prized by beachcombers" (Fretwell and Starzomski).
Fretwell, Kelly, and Brian Starzomski. “Baltic Macoma • Macoma Balthica.” Biodiversity of the Central Coast, 2014, www.centralcoastbiodiversity.org/baltic-macoma-bull-macoma-balthica.html.
Budd, Georgina C, and Will J Rayment. “The Marine Life Information Network.” MarLIN, 2001, www.marlin.ac.uk/species/detail/1465.
“Limecola Balthica.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 25 July 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limecola_balthica