Quahog is an edible clam native to coastal North America, popular in New England cooking. Its scientific name, Mercenaria mercenaria, derives from the Latin for “money”. Quahogs are found in large numbers between Cape Cod and New Jersey and have been introduced to the North American Pacific coast and Europe. Different sizes of quahog have different names in the seafood market. The quahog population is affected by a little-known parasite known as Quahog Parasite Unknown (QPX) and red tide, negatively affecting the supply of quahogs.
A quahog, also called a round clam, hard clam, or chowder clam, is a type of edible clam native to coastal North America. Its range spans nearly the entire continent, from Prince Edward Island to the Yucatán Peninsula. Quahog is especially popular in New England cooking and can be served raw, steamed, stuffed, or in soups, stews, or sauces.
The word quahog comes from the Narragansett poquauhock. The scientific name of the clam, Mercenaria mercenaria, derives from the Latin for “money”, since the pearls obtained from the shells were once used among the Native Americans as a form of currency called a sewant.
Quahogs are found in large numbers between Cape Cod and New Jersey and are the official state shell of Rhode Island. In addition to their native habitat, quahogs have been introduced to the North American Pacific coast and Europe. In some areas, the quahog has been bred to have distinctive markings on its shell, to distinguish it from clams in other areas.
Different sizes of quahog have different names in the seafood market. The smallest are count necks, followed by littlenecks and topnecks. Cherry stones are even larger, with the largest being called quahogs or chowder clams. The latter two sizes are tougher than the smaller varieties and are used in soups and stuffed clams, or chopped into other dishes. Smaller quahogs may be served raw or, more rarely, steamed with butter.
The quahog population is affected by a little-known parasite known as Quahog Parasite Unknown (QPX). The result is the need to leave the contaminated runways unused for a few years, financially affecting the clam farmers. Red tide, a buildup in clams of a neurotoxin released by algae, is another problem for the clam industry. Because consuming affected clams can be fatal, farmers are extremely vigilant about red tide and must follow strict laws. It’s safe to buy and eat clams from a market, but the red tide phenomenon negatively affects the supply of quahogs. As with QPX, red tide requires the affected clam population to remain unarmed for a significant amount of time.
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