Direitos de Autor (c) 2026 Revista Semilla del Este
Este trabalho encontra-se publicado com a Licença Internacional Creative Commons Atribuição-NãoComercial-CompartilhaIgual 4.0.
In order to recognize clam species that pose a threat to the freshwater extraction tunnels of the Panama Canal locks, specimens were collected, which were obtained by diving from the shore at a depth of three meters, every month throughout the year 2025, on the shores of Gatun Lake, in the sector of the town of La Arenosa. district of Chorrera. Panama West Province, Panama, between the approximate coordinates 9°12?N 79°54?W; all specimens were packaged in airtight plastic bags that were placed in a refrigerated container for transport to the facilities of the Museum of Malacology of the University of Panama (MUMAUP), where they were identified and labeled. The 2500 specimens were identified as C. fluminea (Asian clam), had a hard, rounded and triangular shell, with very marked concentric striations, glossy periostracium (brown, green or yellowish) and a pearly interior ranging from white to purple, with three cardinal teeth and denticulated laterals. The presence of this clam in Gatun Lake, Panama, is a problem because it obstructs the hydraulic infrastructures of the Panama Canal, such as pipes and filters, competes for food and resources with native species; These bivalves filter water, reproduce quickly, and were likely introduced by ships' ballast water. In addition, this species is a classic example of an exotic invasive species that has successfully colonized freshwater bodies on almost every continent, generating environmental and economic challenges.
