Lanceolaria grayana (freshwater mussel)
A species of freshwater mussel native to East Asia. The name is a taxonomic designation; in everyday contexts, it is simply referred to as a type of freshwater clam.
Lanceolaria grayana is a species of freshwater bivalve that inhabits rivers in Japan.
Katakana spelling is standard for this species name; usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling is rare and mainly used in taxonomic contexts; the word is usually written in kana.
The name is a compound of 尖り (pointed), 笹の葉 (bamboo leaf), and 貝 (shellfish), describing the shell's shape. The exact origin of the Japanese name is uncertain, but it likely refers to the mussel's elongated, pointed shell resembling a bamboo leaf.