Reproductive System of Hard Shell (Quahog) Clams
With such a simple structure, clams struggle to reproduce. As a juvenile, clams all start out as males. They are still growing and don't have enough energy to create eggs. When they become adults, some turn into females and can have eggs produced. At about 68 degrees Fahrenheit (late spring early summer), the clams can produce babies. The males release millions of sperm into the ocean and eventually an egg will get fertilized. When the egg does get fertilized, the cells divide until it forms a morula. This is a ball that looks like a mulberry. In a day, the clam grows cilia and can freely swim. This stage of development is called the trochophore stage. The next stage is called a veliger and the shell begins to form. The foot also gets created. As it develops, the clam becomes more dense and sinks as it goes into its juvenile stage.
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