We investigated to understand the differences in the karyotypes and the reproductive characteristics between the diploid clam, Corbicula japonica in the brackish water and the triploid clam, C. fluminea in the freshwater. The number of chromosomes of the diploid C. japonica were 38, which can be grouped into 19 pairs of two homologues. These can be divided into 11 pairs of telocentric, 4 pairs of subtelocentric, 3 pairs of submetacentric and one pair of metacentric chromosomes. C. japonica is oviparous and dioecious. The clam has two pairs of gills, with the inner and outer-demibranchs, however, they do not act mainly as marsupia. External fertilization occurs in the brackish water. The triploid marsh clam, C. fluminea has 54 chromosomes, which can be grouped into 18 sets of three homologues. These 18 sets can be divided into one metacentric group, five submetacentric groups and 12 subtelo- or telocentric groups. C. fluminea is ovoviviparous and functional hermaphrodite. The triploid condition may be closely related to hermaphroditism. This species has the inner-demibranchs acting mainly as marsupia. Thedepletion of ripe eggs occurred in the inner-demibranchs of the gill during the incubatory periods, and ripe eggs produced in the hermaphroditic follicles in the gonad during the non-incubatory periods. The gonad developmental stages of two marsh clams (C. japonica and C. fluminea) can be divided into five stages: early active stage, late active stage, ripe stage, partially spawned stages, and spent/inactive stage.