Clams may be male, female or both (hermaphroditic) depending on the species and the particular stage in its life cycle. For example, the hard clam (quahog) begins its life cycle as a male, then later on may become a female. The various kinds of cockles found around the world are all hermaphroditic as adults. There is no easy way to tell a male from a female clam. Fortunately, either sex tastes equally good, which for most people is probably all that matters in this regard. Quahogs, like other clam species, reproduce through a spawning process in which females release large numbers of eggs into the water, while males release sperm. Fertilization takes place in the open water. Females can release from 1 million to as many as 24 million eggs at one time, and spawning may continue for several months, depending on the water temperature and the availability of food. A single female may release up to 60 million eggs in a season, of which only a small number will become fertilized and grow to become adult clams. Once fertilization takes place, the young clam goes through a larval stage where it is carried by waves and currents. Eventually it develops a shell and sinks to the bottom. Using its muscular foot, it can then move about the bottom to some degree. At this point in the process, you may observe a white, frost like coating of young clams along tidal flats in areas where spawning took place. A single handful of this white mixture would contain thousands of tiny clams. Most would not survive, but some always did, as evidenced by the fresh supply of clams we find each year.
As water temperatures start to warm during Spring, both the male and female clams release their reproductive fluids. The seawater causes them to intermingle and fertilize. A female can release between 100,000 and 1,000,000 eggs at a time. There is no direct mating done, as oysters are buried in sediment their entire adult lives.
Potatoes, bacon, clams, and heavy cream.
Clams breed by releasing their eggs and sperm into the water at the same time. Once this is done, the eggs are fertilized as they float in the ocean, becoming eggs and then eventually turning into tiny clams.
clams just do there do do
clams
baby clams
No, clams are animals.
clams
yes, some clams can scream. clams in imax deep sea screamed
Ocean Cams are Quahog Clams (stronger tasting). Sea Clams are Surf Clams (sweeter tasting).
It varies depending on the size of the clams, but on average there are about 15-20 clams in a pound.
i do. do you enjoy bearded clams?
What are clams used for? clam chowder