Photo courtesy of NOAA Fisheries/NEFSC
WOODS HOLE – Many are aware of how long tortoises, whales and sharks can live.
But one of the longest-living creatures around is the ocean quahogs.
While the oldest local quahog was found South of Martha’s Vineyard at 221 years old, the oldest one in the world was 507.
Like other clams, ocean quahogs feed on microscopic algae. They’re found between Cape Hatteras, North Carolina and Newfoundland at depths of 25 to 1,300 feet. Further north, they typically reside in shallow waters close to shore.
Their relatives, Atlantic surfclams or “skimmer” clams, typically only live to about 35 years.
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