What is Litteleneck's clam?
Littleneck Clam is one of the two types of clam, both referred to as Littleneck. Protothaca Stamineals, also called the Pacific or ordinary Litteneck, is located along the Pacific coast of North America. Mercenaria Mercenaria, commonly called the Quahog Clam, is originally from the Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico. In this case, the term “Littleneck Clence” concerns a certain size of the clam, usually in the range of 2 to 2.5 inches (5.1 to 6.3 cm) measured in the longest part of the shell. Although both species are harvested commercially, the deception of Quahog is much more important economically. They have oval shells marked with both prominent ribs that radiate from the curtain to the edges and weak concentric circles. A heart -shaped knob can be distinguished near the knob knob.
The color of the shell varies depending on the habitat. Clams found in Usti and bays often have gray to grayish yellow outer shells, while those of more open waters tend to be white with brown patterns or spots. The shape of the shell also differs and isDnotlivci can be wider and more compact or stretched longer with a thinner profile.
These clams live in the area of sand and mud in the lower intertidal zone. They are filter feeders and live on microscopic plants and animals that are carried in streams. Clams, in turn, provides food for many animals, including sea birds, some fish species, otters and rock crabs. The commercial harvesting of the Pacific Litteneck Cleft began at the end of the 20th century and forms a growing part of the sellfish industry in the Pacific.
Mercenaria Mercenaria is another Littleneck Cleft. The species as a whole is called quahog or sometimes northern quahog, clams; The individual is ranging from about 2 to 2.5 inches (5.1 to 6.3 cm) Litteneck. This species comes from the coast of Texas East, Florida, and the Atlantic coast to the Gulf of Persian in Canada.
these clams reach a maximum size of 5 inches (about 13 cm)Říč. Shells of younger individuals are covered with concentrated circular ridges radiating from the button to the curtain. They wear over time so that adult shells can mostly be smooth. Their outer shells are off white, light brown, gray or brownish gray. Like their Pacific counterparts, these clams are filter feeders found in sandy and muddy areas in the intertidal zone.
Quahog Clams is one of the most important commercial molluscs in the Atlantic. They are harvested not only along the North American coast, but have also been successfully transferred to the UK waters and these areas serve the growing European market. Attempts to present them along the European Atlantic and the Mediterranean coast were made, but none of these populations are considered well established.