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See also: Articles on Clams
CLAMS, CLAM TRIVIA
Clam anatomy
The largest clam ever recorded was found in Okinawa in 1956, it weighed 750 pounds.
Hard shell clams can live to over 40 years if they can avoid humans, fish, starfish, crabs, birds and other predators.
The world's oldest (formally) living animal.
In October 2007 a team of British marine biologists working north of Iceland dredged up what may have been the worlds oldest living animal -- an Ocean Quahog clam from 250 feet deep turned out to be over 405 years old. Unfortunately they realized the clams extreme age only after they had cut through its shell to count its growth rings.
Early French immigrants to Canada made a hearty soup called chaudree from salt pork and fish. (Chaudree derives from the Latin calderia 'caldron'.) When Breton inspired chaudree crossed the Canadian border and moved down the eastern seaboard of the United States "chowder" American style came into being. Maine, ever practical and plain, fostered a simple chowder using pure water, clams, salt pork, and of course, potatoes. The dairy-rich state of Massachusetts chose to make its brand of chowder with milk, while Manhattan and Connecticut versions added tomatoes. Thus started the famous food controversy, still-if ever-to be settled, as to whether chowder should be made with tomatoes.
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