サルボウガイ

also: サルボオガイ

Meanings

Anadara kagoshimensis; ark clam species

usually written using kana alone

A species of ark clam found in East Asian waters. The name literally means 'monkey cheek clam', likely from its appearance. Usually written in katakana as サルボウガイ.

サルボウガイは有あり明あけ海かいでよく獲とれる。
Anadara kagoshimensis is often caught in the Ariake Sea.

Kanji

猿monkey
頬cheeks, jaw
貝shellfish
頰cheeks, jaw

Written forms

猿頬貝
- さるぼうがい
  Kanji spelling is rare; the word is usually written in kana. The kanji are descriptive: 猿 (monkey) + 頬 (cheek) + 貝 (shellfish).
- さるぼおがい
猿頰貝
- さるぼうがい
  Variant kanji spelling using 頰 (an older form of 頬). Extremely rare.
- さるぼおがい
サルボオガイ
kana-only spelling
Alternate katakana spelling reflecting the variant reading さるぼおがい.
さるぼうがい
Hiragana spelling; less common than katakana for this organism name.
さるぼおがい
Hiragana spelling of the variant reading; very rare.

Etymology

The name is a compound of 猿 (さる, monkey), 頬 (ほお/ぼう, cheek), and 貝 (がい, shellfish), likely referring to the clam's appearance. The exact origin is uncertain.