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.

生息地: 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.

外見

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.

界Animalia門Mollusca綱Bivalvia目Venerida科Mactridae属Spisula

West Atlantic Surfclam

カテゴリ

Invertebrate

レア度

Common

危険度

1/5 · 非常に低い

スナップ

最初にスナップしよう！

おもしろい事実

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.

特殊能力

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.

サイズと詳細

長さ: 10-22 cm
体重: 0.2-0.9 kg
寿命: 15-40 年
抱卵期間: 18-35 日

食性と食事

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

年齢による違い: Planktonic larvae feed exclusively on tiny microalgae, while settled adults filter a wider variety of phytoplankton and organic particulate matter.

主な食物

Diatoms
Dinoflagellates
Microscopic algae
Suspended organic detritus

採餌方法

Filtering

生態系とのつながり

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.

特徴

このオブジェクトにはまだ特徴バッジが割り当てられていません。

別名

まだ別名はありません。

コレクション

テーマが追加されると、このオブジェクトのコレクションがここに表示されます。

安全性

危険度

1/5 · 非常に低い

まだ特別な安全上の注意はありません。

よくある質問

West Atlantic Surfclamを見分けるには？

West Atlantic Surfclamを識別する最も簡単な方法は、Snappit自然識別アプリを使用することです。

West Atlantic Surfclamの長さは何ですか？

10-22 cm

West Atlantic Surfclamの体重は何ですか？

0.2-0.9 kg

West Atlantic Surfclamの寿命は何ですか？

15-40 年

West Atlantic Surfclamは何を食べますか？

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

West Atlantic Surfclamは通常どこに生息していますか？

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.

West Atlantic Surfclamはどのように狩りをしますか？

Filtering

West Atlantic Surfclamの抱卵期間は何ですか？

18-35 日