Histochemical characteristic and ultrastructure of the mantle of the granular ark, Tegillarca granosa are described using light and electron microscopy. The mantle of the clam is composed of outer epidermis, connective tissue and inner epidermis. The simple epidermis consists of supporting cells, ciliated cells of the two types and secretory cells of three types. Connective tissue is composed of matrix, collagen fibers, muscular fibers and hemolymph sinus. The columnar supporting cell is covered with microvilli on the free surface. Ciliated cells are distributed in the inner epidermis with numerous cilia, microvilli and tubular mitochondria. Secretory cells could be classified into three types (A, B and C) with morphological features of the secretory granules. Type A secretory cells contains secretory granules with fibrous materials of high electron density Type B secretory cells are more abundant than the other cells, and contains secretory granules of membrane-bounded and high electron density. Secretory granules of the type C cells are divided into fibrous core layer and homogeneous peripheral layer. Type B secretory cells are abundant in the both epidermis of marginal mantle, while large number of type A and C secretory cells are evident in the outer epidermis of the central and umbonal mantle. This result showed that the outer and the inner epidermis of the mantle are related with shell formation and cleaning of the mantle cavity, respectively.