Ugpan: Lingula Anatina Description, Benefits, and Side Effects
Lingula anatina is a brachiopod species in the genus Lingula. It is a filter feeder that uses a lophophore to extract food from water. They burrow in the sand of their brackish intertidal habitat. Lingula anatina is the scientific name of a shell called Ugpan or Ogpan in Negros Occidental, balay shell, and tongue shell in other parts of the Philippines.
The name Lingula comes from the Latin word for "tongue," and anatina means "duck-like." This is because the shell of Lingula anatina is shaped like a duck's bill.
Tongue shells are found in shallow marine waters worldwide. They are also called "lamp shells" in English. Tongue shells are one of the oldest living animal groups, with fossils dating back over 500 million years.
The body of Ugpan is enclosed in a pair of shells. The upp...