When it comes to clams, everyone can be said to be very familiar with them, almost everyone likes to eat them, and clams are eaten in a variety of ways, and they are widely loved by people.
Most of the places where we usually see clams are at the market, and almost everyone buys them and eats them when they go home.
But recently, a question of "why can clams live for so long?" has attracted the attention of netizens, and many netizens said that "I have never observed it, and I eat it when I get home", so for a while, everyone can't give an answer, so today I will take you to learn about the clams we often eat.
Clams have many names, such as clams, flower clams, etc., which we can usually hear on the market, it is a shellfish, the volume of clams is generally not large, generally only about two to five centimeters, similar to an oval, is a very common shellfish seafood.
If we usually look at it, we will find that sometimes the clam will open its mouth, and when we touch it, it will immediately close the shell.
The shell of clams is very hard, and their shell flaps are equal in size on the left and right, so when the shell is closed, it is guaranteed to fit tightly.
They like to stay under the mud and sand in the water, which is why we have to let them spit sand in the water before eating the clams, which have very developed axe feet, and they can use them to hunt, breathe and move.
The number of clams is very large because their vitality is relatively tenacious, and not only that, but clams reproduce and grow very quickly.
According to fishermen, clams are extremely adaptable, they can survive with or without water, and they are also very widely distributed, mainly in the North and South Seas of China, but also in Europe, the Philippines and other places.
It is precisely because of their tenacious vitality that they have attracted the attention of farmers, and people have found that clams are very suitable for artificial cultivation, and they are also known as one of the four major cultured shellfish in China.
So speaking of which, we wonder, what is the lifespan of clams, and why do they live so long?
At first, it was said that a clam could live up to 120 years, but in 2006, scientists found clams in the northern Atlantic Sea in Iceland, some of which reached 507 years old.
Speaking of this, some people will say, "How can you tell how old a clam is, just by their body?" In fact, just like the wrinkles on the human face, there are also patterns on the shell of the clams, and these patterns may be decorations or their characteristics in the eyes of ordinary people, and in the eyes of scientists, this is an important information representing the age of the clams.
People call the patterns on the body of clams growth streaks, and their distribution is very regular, and through these growth streaks, we can also calculate the age of the clams.
In addition, the older the clams, the larger they become, and although they do not grow all the time, they are also very prominent compared to other clams. So why do clams live so long?
According to scientists, most clams live for long periods of time, and in 1982, experts also found clams that were about 220 years old, and they speculated that it may be related to genetics.
First of all, the clams themselves are very long-lived, and secondly, after years of continuous evolution, they have also become more and more tenacious, which is why there are so many long-lived clams.
In addition to this, the environment and conditions in which they grow are also a big point, as clams live in cold water for a long time, their cells have a slower metabolism relative to other organisms.
In fact, not only clams, scientists have also found that many creatures living in the Arctic and Antarctic and the deep sea generally have a long lifespan.
And the place where they are located, because it is too remote and cold, there are relatively few natural predators, so the chances of survival are naturally greater.
Scientists are still exploring the secret of the clam's longevity, and perhaps in some corner of the world, there is an older clam.
I believe that with the continuous development of science and technology, people's exploration will become easier and easier, and we look forward to this amazing creature to bring us more surprises.
The reason why people love to eat clams is because it is not only delicious but also nutritious. Studies have shown that clams are very nutritious, and their bodies are rich in protein, as well as calcium, iron, zinc and other trace elements needed by the human body.
The meat of the clams is delicious and tender, and there are many chefs who make them into many delicious dishes, and the most common is fried clams at street food stalls.
We all know that clams are delicious, but they are also very particular about their selection, although it is said that clams can survive in places without water, but if it is too long, clams will still die due to lack of oxygen.
Therefore, we are in the market, and if we see clams that are not in the water, we must be cautious about buying them.
On the earth we live on, there are still many unknowns and mysteries, and we can see the tenacity and greatness of life from the little clams.
Finally, I hope that human beings can protect our environment and live in harmony with nature, so that we can have a steady stream of wealth.