What is the best classification of clams, which are known to filter food particles from the water?

Clams are best classified as filter feeders due to their unique feeding mechanism. They have specialized gills that allow them to filter small food particles, such as plankton and organic matter, from the surrounding water as it flows through their bodies. During this process, clams open their shells slightly and use ciliary action on the gills to trap and transport food towards their mouths. This distinct feeding strategy is characteristic of filter feeders, distinguishing them from herbivores, carnivores, and scavengers, which have different dietary habits and methods of obtaining food. Herbivores primarily consume plant material, carnivores feed on other animals, and scavengers consume dead or decaying organic matter, none of which accurately describe the mode of feeding in clams.