olena
<font color=green>Emerald Angel<br><font color=mag
- Joined
- May 12, 2001
State Shell
Northern Quahog
Mercenaria mercenaria
Description 2 3/4-4 1/4" (7-10.8 cm) long. Broadly ovate, moderately inflated, thick-shelled; hind end slightly sinuous, pointed below; umbones near front end; lunule margined by sharply incised line; broad, narrow escutcheon bounded by low umbonal ridge. Exterior grayish-yellow, often with pale brownish tinge; with erect concentric ridges that are strong near umbones, more crowded near front and hind ends, with finer threads between; ridges broader and lower near lower margin; surface smooth near center. Interior white, usually with purple spot near hind end; pallial sinus small, sharply pointed; margin finely toothed.
Habitat In sand or mud in bays or inlets, from intertidal flats to water 50' (15 m) deep.
Range Gulf of St. Lawrence to Florida and Texas.
Discussion Also known as the Hard-shelled Clam or the Littleneck Clam. The name "Quahog," or "Quahaug," is of Algonquin Indian origin. The Indians used the animal as food and the shell for tools and ornaments. Beads made from the thick shell were strung together and used as wampum, or shell-money; those with purple spots were twice as valuable as the white ones. Today this clam is the basis of an important commercial fishery. The related larger and heavier Southern Quahog (M. campechiensis), found from southern New Jersey to Florida and Texas, grows to 6" (15.2 cm) in length; it is more inflated and lacks the smoothish area in the center of the valves; the interior is white and rarely marked with purple.
Northern Quahog
Mercenaria mercenaria
Description 2 3/4-4 1/4" (7-10.8 cm) long. Broadly ovate, moderately inflated, thick-shelled; hind end slightly sinuous, pointed below; umbones near front end; lunule margined by sharply incised line; broad, narrow escutcheon bounded by low umbonal ridge. Exterior grayish-yellow, often with pale brownish tinge; with erect concentric ridges that are strong near umbones, more crowded near front and hind ends, with finer threads between; ridges broader and lower near lower margin; surface smooth near center. Interior white, usually with purple spot near hind end; pallial sinus small, sharply pointed; margin finely toothed.
Habitat In sand or mud in bays or inlets, from intertidal flats to water 50' (15 m) deep.
Range Gulf of St. Lawrence to Florida and Texas.
Discussion Also known as the Hard-shelled Clam or the Littleneck Clam. The name "Quahog," or "Quahaug," is of Algonquin Indian origin. The Indians used the animal as food and the shell for tools and ornaments. Beads made from the thick shell were strung together and used as wampum, or shell-money; those with purple spots were twice as valuable as the white ones. Today this clam is the basis of an important commercial fishery. The related larger and heavier Southern Quahog (M. campechiensis), found from southern New Jersey to Florida and Texas, grows to 6" (15.2 cm) in length; it is more inflated and lacks the smoothish area in the center of the valves; the interior is white and rarely marked with purple.