Now Viewing: geoduckTag type: General From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - < en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoduck > "The geoduck (/ˈɡuːiːdʌk/ "gooey duck"), scientific name Panopea generosa, is a species of very large, edible, saltwater clam in the family Hiatellidae. The common name may be derived from a Native American word meaning "dig deep". The geoduck is native to the west coast of North America. The shell of the clam ranges from 15 centimetres (5.9 in) to over 20 centimetres (7.9 in) in length, but the extremely long siphons make the clam itself very much longer than this: the "neck" or siphons alone can be 1 metre (3.3 ft) in length. The geoduck is both one of the largest clams in the world, and one of the longest-lived animals of any type. As adults they have very few predators other than humans. These clams were not fished commercially until the 1970s, but in recent decades a huge demand from Asian markets has developed, and the clams are now farmed as well as being harvested in the wild. The clams currently sell for huge sums of money, which has made poaching a problem. Farming techniques are under scrutiny for their possible negative environmental impact." Other Wiki Information Last updated: 07/18/13 6:04 PM by surveyork This entry is not locked and you can edit it as you see fit. |
     
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