West Atlantic Surfclam

spisula solidissima

The West Atlantic Surfclam, also known as the bar clam or hen clam, is a large, robust marine bivalve native to the western Atlantic Ocean. Thriving in the turbulent waters of the sandy surf zone, this impressive clam plays an essential role in its coastal ecosystem by filtering immense quantities of seawater and helping to stabilize shifting sands. It is one of the most commercially valuable clam species in North America, widely harvested for seafood dishes like clam chowders and fried clam strips. Despite heavy harvesting pressures, active management and sustainable fishing practices have helped maintain healthy populations of this resilient mollusk.

Lebensraum: Found in the shallow subtidal zone of sandy beaches and continental shelves, typically burrowed in clean sand from the low tide mark down to depths of about 60 meters.

Aussehen

The West Atlantic Surfclam features a large, heavy, and triangularly oval shell that typically reaches 10 to 22 centimeters in length. The shell's exterior is relatively smooth with fine, concentric growth lines and is covered in a thin, yellowish-brown outer skin that often wears away to reveal a chalky, off-white base. Inside, the shell is smooth and white, featuring a prominent, spoon-shaped hinge cavity where the internal ligament attaches, distinguishing it from other beach-dwelling bivalves.

ReichAnimaliaStammMolluscaKlasseBivalviaOrdnungVeneridaFamilieMactridaeGattungSpisula

West Atlantic Surfclam

Kategorie

Invertebrate

Seltenheit

Common

Gefahr

1/5 · Sehr gering

Snaps

Mach den ersten Snap!

Interessante Fakten

A single female surfclam can release up to several self-produced millions of eggs into the water column during a single spawning event.

Much like counting the rings of a tree, scientists can determine the precise age of a surfclam by counting the annual growth lines on its cross-sectioned shell.

They are the primary species harvested for the commercial clam strip and clam chowder industries in the United States.

Besondere Fähigkeiten

Uses a highly muscular, tongue-shaped foot to anchor itself and quickly pull its shell deep into loose, wet sand to escape heavy waves and predators.

Capable of processing gallons of seawater every hour, filtering out organic particles and plankton while purifying the local aquatic environment.

Features long, muscular siphons that extend to the surface of the sand to draw in oxygenated water and food while keeping the body safely buried.

Maße und Details

Länge: 10-22 cm
Gewicht: 0.2-0.9 kg
Lebenserwartung: 15-40 Jahre
Brutzeit: 18-35 Tage

Ernährung und Fütterung

As a suspension feeder, it sucks in seawater through its incurrent siphon, using its gills to trap microscopic organisms and organic particles.

Altersunterschiede: Planktonic larvae feed exclusively on tiny microalgae, while settled adults filter a wider variety of phytoplankton and organic particulate matter.

Hauptnahrung

Diatoms
Dinoflagellates
Microscopic algae
Suspended organic detritus

Nahrungssuche

Filtering

Ökologische Zusammenhänge

eaten by

Atlantic Moon Snail

Neverita duplicata

Prays upon the surfclam by drilling a neat, countersunk hole directly through its thick shell to consume the soft inner tissues.

eaten by

Forbes Sea Star

Asterias forbesi

Uses its powerful water vascular system and tube feet to pry open young surfclams on the ocean floor.

eaten by

Human

Homo sapiens

Harvests adult surfclams on a massive commercial scale using hydraulic dredges for food products.

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Sicherheit

Gefahr

1/5 · Sehr gering

Noch keine besonderen Sicherheitshinweise.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

Wie identifiziert man West Atlantic Surfclam?

Der einfachste Weg, West Atlantic Surfclam zu bestimmen, ist die Verwendung der Naturführer-App Snappit.

Was ist der/die/das länge von West Atlantic Surfclam?

10-22 cm

Was ist der/die/das gewicht von West Atlantic Surfclam?

0.2-0.9 kg

Was ist der/die/das lebenserwartung von West Atlantic Surfclam?

15-40 Jahre

Was frisst West Atlantic Surfclam?

As a suspension feeder, it sucks in seawater through its incurrent siphon, using its gills to trap microscopic organisms and organic particles.

Wo findet man West Atlantic Surfclam normalerweise?

Found in the shallow subtidal zone of sandy beaches and continental shelves, typically burrowed in clean sand from the low tide mark down to depths of about 60 meters.

Wie jagt West Atlantic Surfclam?

Filtering

Was ist der/die/das brutzeit von West Atlantic Surfclam?

18-35 Tage