In general, bivalves are found in abundance in seashores and
estuaries and form the food of many coastal people in India.
Donacids are suspension filter feeders inhabiting seawaters of
tropical and subtropical areas. Donax scortum (wedge clam) is a
common and important member of the bivalve fauna of muddy beach
substrata on southern Karnataka coast. This wedge clam, belonging
to the family Donacidae, is found around the Indian coast e.g. north
[39], east [21, 45] and west [47] coasts. From Indian waters, the
chemical compositions of D. incarnatus and D. cuneatus have been
studied [11, 35]. Amylase and protease activities were studied in the
gut of wedge clam, D. cuneatus [40]. The biochemical composition of
mollusc is influenced by its size, growth and reproductive status.
Bivalve molluscs are potential sources of valuable proteins,
carbohydrates and minerals and abundantly available in India. D.
scortum does not occur in dense population at the Padukere beach,
Karnataka, but plays a major role in the function of ecosystems near
to the mouth of Udyavara river. The present study dealing with the
variations in the total protein, carbohydrates, lipids and calorific
contents of largest wedge clam from this area may be of help in
studying ecological energy models. Martínez-Pita et al. [28] analysed
sex-related differences in lipid classes and fatty acid profile. Total
lipids were higher in females than in males. Further, they reported
that that triglycerides and phospholipids were the major lipid
components, and the former dominated in females and the latter in
males. Literature on biochemical of the donacid species is scanty in
India. Various patterns of fluctuation of biochemical components in