Mercenaria mercenaria

Mercenaria mercenaria, commonly known as the Hard clam, Northern quahog, Round clam, or Chowder clam, is a species of bivalve mollusc in the family Veneridae. It is native to the eastern shores of North America, from Prince Edward Island to the Yucatán Peninsula. It is one of many unrelated edible bivalves that in the United States are frequently referred to as clams, a category that also includes the soft-shell clam.

Description

The hard clam has a thick, hard shell, which gives it its common name. The shell is usually a grayish white color, although it can also be a deep mahogany brown. The inside of the shell is white, often with a purple patch near the hinge. The hard clam has two siphons, through which it draws in and expels water. It feeds by filtering plankton from the water.

Distribution and habitat

The hard clam is found along the Atlantic coast of North America, from Prince Edward Island in Canada to the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. It lives in a variety of habitats, including estuaries, salt marshes, and tidal flats.

Life cycle

The hard clam is a broadcast spawner, releasing its eggs and sperm into the water where fertilization occurs. The resulting larvae are planktonic and are carried by the currents until they settle and metamorphose into juvenile clams.

Human use

The hard clam is one of the most commercially important species of clam in North America. It is harvested both for direct human consumption and for use as bait in the lobster fishery. The hard clam is also a popular species for aquaculture.

Conservation

The hard clam is not currently considered to be at risk of extinction. However, it is vulnerable to overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution.

See also

• Clam
• Bivalvia
• Aquaculture
• Overfishing

Mercenaria mercenaria Resources
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