Habitat
This common species occurs off the east coast of North America from New Brunswick to South Carolina.
Atlantic surf clams live buried in coarse or fine sand. They live offshore as well as in the low intertidal and surf zones.
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Species
West Atlantic Surfclam
Spisula solidissima, (Dillwyn, 1817)
marine
About West Atlantic Surfclam
The Atlantic surf clam (Spisula solidissima), also called the bar clam, hen clam, skimmer or simply sea clam, is a very large, edible, saltwater clam or marine bivalve mollusk in the family Mactridae. It is one of the most commonly found species of bivalves in the western Atlantic Ocean. Able to reach sizes between 7.9 and 8.9 inches (20 and 23 cm) in length, Atlantic surf clams are much larger than Spisula solida, which also resides in the eastern Atlantic coastal waters. Atlantic surf clams reproduce in late summer, when the water temperatures peak.
The shell of this species is a well-known object to beach-goers in the northeastern United States. People on the beach often pick up a large empty shell of this species, either to dig in the sand with, or take home to use as a decorative dish or ashtray.
The species is exported commercially as a food item.
Reproduction
Atlantic surf clams reproduce primarily in late summer (August–October), when the water temperatures are around their highest. Reproduction occurs via external fertilization. The sex cells are released via the passage of water through the clam, the same path taken for respiration and digestion. There are five described stages of development of the sexual organs of both male and female surf clams: early active phase, late active phase, ripe, partially spawned, and spent, with ripe phase being the main phase during which clams reproduce.
Humans & conservation
This species is a commercially exploited species, long prized for its sweet flavor. This species is typically harvested from fishing vessels known as dredgers, which use a specialized fishing dredge equipped with high-power hydraulic jets designed to fluidize the sea floor so as to loosen clams from the sediments before it scoops them up.
About two-thirds of a surf clam's shucked weight is viable for human consumption. The meat of the clam is used as 'strips', chowder, and sushi.
The "tongue" or foot of the clam is commercially valuable because it is cut into long strips which are breaded and fried and served as clam strips, first popularized by the Howard Johnson's franchise.
Where to see it
No dive sites list West Atlantic Surfclam yet. Explore the map to find sites near you.