Gulf of Maine Bivalve Molluscs (6 Species)
Gulf of Maine Bivalve Molluscs (6 Species)
Gulf of Maine Bivalve Molluscs (6 species) may include species:
Depending on the “catch of the day,”
Common name: soft-shelled clam, long-neck clam, steamer clam
Scientific name: Mya arenaria
Locations: buried in intertidal sand and mud
Seasonality: available year round
Colors: shell color ranges from bright white (sand) to dark black (mud)
Size: 2” - 4"
Collected: hand dug with fork in sand and mud
Quantity: sold by the each
Common name: blue mussel
Scientific name: Mytilus edulis
Locations: mid - low tide, on rocks, pilings, floats, buoys, in beds on bottom
Seasonality: available year round
Colors: blue-black color
Size: 1" - 3"
Collected: by hand
Quantity: sold by the each
Common name: horse mussel
Scientific name: Modiolus modiolus
Locations: on rocks in lower intertidal, kelp beds
Seasonality: available year round
Colors: brown and black shells
Size: 2” - 4"
Collected: by hand
Quantity: sold by the each
Common name: chestnut astarte clam
Scientific name: Astarte castanea
Locations: sub-tidal on rocky bottoms
Seasonality: available year round
Colors: dark brown and black
Size: 3/4" - 1"
Collected: by hand or dredge
Quantity: sold by the each
Common name: mahogany clam, black clam
Scientific name: Arctica islandica
Locations: sub-tidal on mud bottoms
Seasonality: available year round
Colors: brown - black color with white on umbo
Size: 1" - 3"
Collected: by deepwater dredge
Quantity: sold by the each
Common name: American oyster
Scientific name: Crassostrea virginica
Locations: mid - low tide, shell beds, especially in estuaries
Seasonality: available year round
Colors: white with green tinge
Size: 1" - 3"
Collected: by hand
Quantity: sold by the each