Oxygen consumption by the Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum (Bivalvia: Veneridae) maintained in a culture tank for 7-10 weeks was measured with an automatic intermittent-flow-respirometer (AIFR). There was evidence for an endogenous tidal rhythm of 12.4 h in oxygen consumption, at irregular intervals of between about 7 and 18 hours during experiments of between 22 h 5 min and 70 h 32 min (duration) recording for fasting animals in constant darkness at constant temperatures in the absence of tidal rhythms.