noun
Dosinia japonica; Japanese dosinia
A species of Venus clam found in Japan. The name literally means 'mirror shell', referring to its smooth, reflective inner surface.
カガミガイは内湾の砂泥底に生息する。
Dosinia japonica lives on sandy-muddy bottoms in inner bays.
潮干狩りでカガミガイを見つけた。
I found a Japanese dosinia while clam digging.
ハマグリ (common orient clam) is a more familiar edible clam, while カガミガイ is a specific species less commonly encountered.
The name is a compound of 鏡 (mirror) and 貝 (shell), referring to the shell's shiny interior. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.