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turtle777 · Nov 1, 2007, 12:42 PM

A sad day for turtles and tortoise

"A clam dredged from Icelandic waters had lived for 400 years - is this the longest-lived animal known to science?"

400 Year Old Clam Found -- Oldest Animal Ever

I mean, can you imagine what this clam has seen during its life time ?

I can't. It probably just saw water

-t

RAILhead · Nov 1, 2007, 01:11 PM

And the bearded clam jokes begin in 3...2...

reader50 · Nov 1, 2007, 01:43 PM

From their wording, it won't be getting any older. At least they didn't say what it tasted like.

Shaddim · Nov 1, 2007, 01:54 PM

I would imagine it would be very, very, very chewy.

ort888 · Nov 1, 2007, 01:54 PM

Cook that sucker up!

::maroma:: · Nov 1, 2007, 02:07 PM

So did these guys kill the thing when they brought it up from the bottom of the sea or what?

Kvasir · Nov 1, 2007, 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by ::maroma::

So did these guys kill the thing when they brought it up from the bottom of the sea or what?

I'd say that was afirm'

Clues would be that they have a picture of the two separate valves of the clam (hard to put back together and revive the poor sucker), they used the phrase "had lived for 400 years", and they'd dredged it up and still apparently have it.

Chuckit · Nov 1, 2007, 02:54 PM

It was probably dead by the time they realized how old it was.

::maroma:: · Nov 1, 2007, 03:02 PM

Well damn. The poor thing manages to figure out a way to survive the harsh world for over 400 years, and the one thing that manages to kill it is humans. Yay for us! (sucks to be the clam)

brassplayersrock² · Nov 1, 2007, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by ::maroma::

Well damn. The poor thing manages to figure out a way to survive the harsh world for over 400 years, and the one thing that manages to kill it is humans. Yay for us! (shucks to be the clam)

fixed that for ya

Rumor · Nov 1, 2007, 03:34 PM

I've seen some....nevermind.

Eriamjh · Nov 1, 2007, 05:07 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

A sad day for turtles and tortoise

-t

Why do you say that? According to your link:

...the existing record for the longest-lived animal belongs to a 220 year old Arctica clam collected in 1982 from American waters. Unofficially, the record belongs to a 374 year old Icelandic clam which was found in a museum. Both these records appear to have been eclipsed by the latest specimen, whose age, between 405 and 410 years, has been assessed by counting the annual growth lines in the shell.

...old clams have been kicking turtles' and tortoise's asses for the age record since 1982.

theDreamer · Nov 1, 2007, 07:56 PM

Originally Posted by ::maroma::

So did these guys kill the thing when they brought it up from the bottom of the sea or what?

It died when they attempted to check how old it was. To do so they have to open it up in a way that will kill the clam, but apparently there are estimates that there is an older clam in the same area, only time will tell.

nonhuman · Nov 1, 2007, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by theDreamer

It died when they attempted to check how old it was. To do so they have to open it up in a way that will kill the clam, but apparently there are estimates that there is an older clam in the same area, only time will tell.

How the hell do you estimate the age and location of a hypothetical clam?

brassplayersrock² · Nov 1, 2007, 08:28 PM

Originally Posted by nonhuman

How the hell do you estimate the age and location of a hypothetical clam?

With your "clamdar"

nonhuman · Nov 1, 2007, 08:30 PM

New Englanders....

iM@k · Nov 2, 2007, 02:51 AM

Originally Posted by nonhuman

New Englanders....

Hey you list your location as "The Hub" last time I checked Boston (AKA 'The Hub) was in New England!

Besides, have you ever had real Chowda? (Meaning it's fairly thick, made with salt pork, and should have a buttery flavor with onion and celery finishes with fresh parsley on top to garnish)

His Dudeness · Nov 2, 2007, 05:27 AM

Originally Posted by RAILhead

And the bearded clam jokes begin in 3...2...

Now why would you say something like that? We are classier than that here.

nonhuman · Nov 2, 2007, 09:10 AM

Originally Posted by iM@k

Hey you list your location as "The Hub" last time I checked Boston (AKA 'The Hub) was in New England!

Besides, have you ever had real Chowda? (Meaning it's fairly thick, made with salt pork, and should have a buttery flavor with onion and celery finishes with fresh parsley on top to garnish)

I live in Boston now, but I grew up in California and New Jersey. Only been here for about 18 months.

I don't know if I've ever had real chowder before, but I've had pretty good chowder in Monterey (CA).

brassplayersrock² · Nov 2, 2007, 02:42 PM

go to quincy market and get the chowda in the bread bowl at the two floor (first floor has the food places/seating and the second floor is just seating/looking down into the eating area on the first floor) food court. It's awesome

nonhuman · Nov 2, 2007, 03:04 PM

Quincy Market? There isn't anywhere better that I could go that isn't full of tourists?

brassplayersrock² · Nov 2, 2007, 03:06 PM

it was the first place i thought of. sue me

legal seafood by the aquarium has some excellent chowder. the one in the prudential has okay chowder but not as good as the one by the aquarium.

nonhuman · Nov 2, 2007, 03:18 PM

What about the Kendall Square one? That's the one closest to me (I live in Porter Square).

brassplayersrock² · Nov 2, 2007, 03:22 PM

I haven't eaten at that one.

nonhuman · Nov 2, 2007, 03:28 PM

Well you're no help.

brassplayersrock² · Nov 2, 2007, 08:19 PM

it's only a bit under 2 miles away. i'll see if i can get there to help ya out

iM@k · Nov 3, 2007, 02:03 AM

Originally Posted by brassplayersrock²

it was the first place i thought of. sue me

legal seafood by the aquarium has some excellent chowder. the one in the prudential has okay chowder but not as good as the one by the aquarium.

Whew, I'm glad to know this:
The last time I ate at Legal Seafoods, it was from the prudential location, and I found the chowda to be nothing like what I had there before (The time previous had been almost two years prior). Good to know it's a location issue.

nonhuman · Nov 3, 2007, 09:45 AM

Actually, there's the Harvard Square one now that I forgot about. That one's closer. But since it's outdoor seating only, they may be closed for the season already.

nonhuman · Nov 3, 2007, 09:46 AM

Originally Posted by brassplayersrock²

it's only a bit under 2 miles away. i'll see if i can get there to help ya out

Good, I expect a full report in writing on my desk in the morning.

amazing · Nov 3, 2007, 09:53 AM

Finding out that clams are the oldest animals around sure explains a lot about us guys!

How many times have you been accused of clamming up? Well, now you know that it's an instinctive reaction to try to extend the woeful male life expectancy!

scaught · Nov 3, 2007, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by His Dudeness

Now why would you say something like that? We are classier than that here.

What's this we ****, white man?