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Clam, American hard shell
Mercenaria mercenaria
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BIOLOGY
Known by many names including quahog, cherrystones, chowder clam, and littleneck. Found naturally along Atlantic of North America from Florida to Canada, with the highest densities around New England and Rhode Island. American hard-shell clams were introduced into Britain in 1925. They are a commercially important species. Spawning takes place during summer. Clams change sex during their life, during early maturity they are male, as they get older they change to females (referred to as being protandric hermaphrodites). They become sexually mature at 2-3 years old and can live for up to 40 years. Large filter feeding bivalves, such as Quahogs, are of high ecological importance as they can filter large volumes of water, reducing turbidity and removing pollutants.
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ADVICE
None
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