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