Mercenaria Mercenaria (Noun)
Meaning
An edible American clam; the heavy shells were used as money by some American Indians.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The Mercenaria mercenaria clam is an important food source for many marine animals and humans alike in the North Atlantic.
- Shell middens containing remnants of Mercenaria mercenaria clams are often found at archeological sites, indicating their cultural and economic significance.
- In the past, American Indians in the eastern United States used the heavy shells of Mercenaria mercenaria as a form of currency.
- Commercial fisheries target Mercenaria mercenaria, which are then sold as chowder clams or quahogs.
- Some coastal Native American tribes have traditionally relied on Mercenaria mercenaria as a key source of protein in their diets.