Manila Clam

Home

Species Profiles

Top Food Species

Top Ornamental Species

Additional Information

References

Contacts

Manila Clam

Tapes japonica
(also known as Venerupis japonica)

Aquaculture Potential

Opportunity Constraints

Good flavor (Iversen and Hale 1992)
Leads in production of farmed clams (Chew and Ma 1987)
Highly tolerant of pollution (Fitch 1953 in Emmett et al. 1991)

Difficult to raise in unenclosed area due to high predation (Iversen and Hale 1992)
Can accumulate large amounts of pollution within tissue. This becomes harmful to humans (Emmett et al. 1991)

In-depth Information Regarding this Species

Alternate Common Names N/A

Range Elkhorn Slough, California to British Columbia (Fitch 1953 in Emmett et al. 1991)
Not commonly found in Oregon estuaries but abundant in Washington estuaries (Emmett et al. 1991)

Habitat Intertidal zone (Emmett et al. 1991)

Substrate Gravel, sand, mud, shell (Anderson et al. 1982 in Emmett et al. 1991)

Depth range (meters) Benthic infauna down to 5–10 cm (Bourne 1982; Wolotira et al. 1989 in Emmett et al. 1991)

Behavior N/A

General Temperature Range (°C) N/A

General Salinity Range (ppt) Mesohaline to euryhaline (Haderlie adn Abbott 1980 in Emmett et al. 1991)

Maximum Overall Recorded Size (cm) N/A

Maximum Recorded Size for Males (cm) N/A

Maximum Recorded Size for Females (cm) N/A

Average Maximum Overall Length (cm) 7.6 (Iversen and Hale 1992)

Average Maximum Overall Length for Males (cm) N/A

Average Maximum Overall Length for Females (cm) N/A

Average Maximum weight (kg) N/A

Average Maximum weight for Males (cm) N/A

Average Maximum weight for Females (cm) N/A

Length When Harvested (cm) N/A

Weight When Harvested (kg) N/A

Overall Length to Age Ratio (cm/age in years) N/A

Male Length to Age Ratio (cm/age in years) N/A

Female Length to Age Ratio (cm/age in years) N/A

Overall Maximum Age (years) 7–10 (Frey 1971 in Emmett et al. 1991)

Maximum Age for Males (years) N/A

Maximum Age for Females (years) N/A

Age when Harvested (years) 2–3 (Iversen and Hale 1992)

Overall Growth Rate N/A

Male Growth Rate N/A

Female Growth Rate N/A

Overall Age at Maturity (years) N/A

Male Age at Maturity (years) N/A

Female Age at Maturity (years) N/A

Overall Length at Maturity (cm) 1.2–2.0 (Ko 1957; Nosho and Chew 1972; Holland and Chew 1974; Wolotira et al. 1989 all in Emmett et al. 1991)

Male Length at Maturity (cm) N/A

Female Length at Maturity (cm) N/A

Maturity/Temperature Relationship N/A

Type of Reproduction Gonochoristic, oviparous, iteroparous (Emmett et al. 1991)

Fecundity Unknown (Emmett et al. 1991)

Spawning Habitat N/A

Spawning Behavior Broadcast spawner (Emmett et al. 1991)

Time of Year of Spawning June and July (Washington) (Iversen and Hale 1992)

Number of Spawns per season 1 (Emmett et al. 1991)

Spawning/Temperature Relationship (°C) Need temperatures above 14 (Holland and Chew 1974; Mann 1979; Bourne 1982 all in Emmett et al. 1991)

Spawning/Salinity Relationship N/A

Description of Eggs N/A

Habitat where Eggs are found Pelagic (Emmett et al. 1991)

Days to Hatch 1–2 at 13–16°C (Emmett et al. 1991)

Time of Year when Eggs Hatch N/A

Temperature for Egg Survival (°C) N/A

Salinity for Egg Survival (ppt) N/A

Predators on Eggs N/A

Habitat where Larvae are found Pelagic (Emmett et al. 1991)

Days in Larval Stage 21 (Iversen and Hale 1992)

Temperature for Larval Survival (°C) 0–36 (Robinson and Breese 1984 in Emmett et al. 1991)
23–25 (optimal) (Robinson and Breese 1984 in Emmett et al. 1991)

Salinity for Larval Survival (ppt) 20–30 (optimal) (Robinson and Breese 1984 in Emmett et al. 1991)

Larval Food Preference N/A

Habitat where Juveniles are found Benthic infauna down to 5–10 cm (Bourne 1982; Wolotira et al. 1989 in Emmett et al. 1991)

Length when Juvenile Settles out (cm) 0.02 (Williams 1978, 1980a in Emmett et al. 1991)

Temperature for Juvenile Survival (°C) 13–21 (optimal) (Bernard 1983b in Emmett et al. 1991)

Salinity for Juvenile Survival (ppt) 24–31 (optimal) (Bernard 1983b in Emmett et al. 1991)

Where and When Juvenile Feeds N/A

Juvenile Food Preference Suspended Detritus and Phytoplankton (Emmett et al. 1991)

Habitat where Adults are found (depth in meters) Benthic infauna down to 5–10 cm (Bourne 1982; Wolotira et al. 1989 in Emmett et al. 1991)

Temperature for Adult Survival (°C) 13–21 (optimal) (Bernard 1983b in Emmett et al. 1991)
Need temperatures above 14 for maturation (Holland and Chew 1974; Mann 1979; Bourne 1982 all in Emmett et al. 1991)

Salinity for Adult Survival (ppt) 24–31 (optimal) (Bernard 1983b in Emmett et al. 1991)

Adult Feeding Type Suspension, filter feeder (Emmett et al. 1991)

Adult Food Preference Suspended Detritus and Phytoplankton (Emmett et al. 1991)

Food Eaten in Laboratory Setting 55 mg/l optimal food suspension density (Bernard 1983b in Emmett et al. 1991)
Survives in aquariums with open systems or with algal culture in a closed system (Anderson 2001)

Amount of Food Eaten in Laboratory Setting N/A

Additional Laboratory Findings N/A

Environmental Considerations Highly tolerant of pollution (Fitch 1953 in Emmett et al. 1991)
Can accumulate large amounts of pollution that are harmful to humans (Emmett et al. 1991)
Extreme substrate temperatures can be lethal (Chew 1989 in Emmett et al. 1991)

Commercial Fishery "...second-most important commercial clam species on the Pacific coast of North America (Emmett et al. 1991)."

Market 16–22 months to reach market size in Washington (Glock 1978 in Emmett et al. 1991)

Sold Fresh or Frozen Fresh (Emmett et al. 1991)

Style Species is Sold N/A

Additional Use of the Species N/A

Shelf-life in Fresh State (days at 40°F) N/A

Shelf-life in Frozen State (months at 0°F) N/A

Shelf-life Canned (months) N/A

Weight sold in Oregon (kg) N/A

Ornamental Market N/A

Parasites or Disease Larval Trematode (Iversen and Hale 1992)

Additional Remarks Accidentally introduced to the Pacific coast of the United States in 1930's (Emmett et al. 1991)
Introduced to Pacific Northwest in 1930's and 1940's (Iversen and Hale 1992)
Not believed to displace any native species due to its occurrence in the upper tidal zone (Emmett et al. 1991)

Location where Species has been Researched/Farmed Puget Sound
British Columbia
Japan (Iversen and Hale 1992)
Humbolt Bay, California (Emmett et al. 1991)

Appropriate Aquaculture Systems N/A

Recent Wild Harvest Data for Oregon
Data from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Year Total Catch
(Pounds) Ex-vessel Value
( U.S. Dollars)

1989
N/A

N/A

1990
N/A

N/A

1991
N/A

N/A

1992
N/A

N/A

1993
N/A

N/A

1994
N/A

N/A

1995
N/A

N/A

1996
N/A

N/A

1997
N/A

N/A

1998
N/A

N/A

Home Species Profiles Top Food Species Top Ornamental Species Additional Information References Contacts

Alternate Common Names	N/A
Range	Elkhorn Slough, California to British Columbia (Fitch 1953 in Emmett et al. 1991) Not commonly found in Oregon estuaries but abundant in Washington estuaries (Emmett et al. 1991)
Habitat	Intertidal zone (Emmett et al. 1991)
Substrate	Gravel, sand, mud, shell (Anderson et al. 1982 in Emmett et al. 1991)
Depth range (meters)	Benthic infauna down to 5–10 cm (Bourne 1982; Wolotira et al. 1989 in Emmett et al. 1991)
Behavior	N/A
General Temperature Range (°C)	N/A
General Salinity Range (ppt)	Mesohaline to euryhaline (Haderlie adn Abbott 1980 in Emmett et al. 1991)
Maximum Overall Recorded Size (cm)	N/A
Maximum Recorded Size for Males (cm)	N/A
Maximum Recorded Size for Females (cm)	N/A
Average Maximum Overall Length (cm)	7.6 (Iversen and Hale 1992)
Average Maximum Overall Length for Males (cm)	N/A
Average Maximum Overall Length for Females (cm)	N/A
Average Maximum weight (kg)	N/A
Average Maximum weight for Males (cm)	N/A
Average Maximum weight for Females (cm)	N/A
Length When Harvested (cm)	N/A
Weight When Harvested (kg)	N/A
Overall Length to Age Ratio (cm/age in years)	N/A
Male Length to Age Ratio (cm/age in years)	N/A
Female Length to Age Ratio (cm/age in years)	N/A
Overall Maximum Age (years)	7–10 (Frey 1971 in Emmett et al. 1991)
Maximum Age for Males (years)	N/A
Maximum Age for Females (years)	N/A
Age when Harvested (years)	2–3 (Iversen and Hale 1992)
Overall Growth Rate	N/A
Male Growth Rate	N/A
Female Growth Rate	N/A
Overall Age at Maturity (years)	N/A
Male Age at Maturity (years)	N/A
Female Age at Maturity (years)	N/A
Overall Length at Maturity (cm)	1.2–2.0 (Ko 1957; Nosho and Chew 1972; Holland and Chew 1974; Wolotira et al. 1989 all in Emmett et al. 1991)
Male Length at Maturity (cm)	N/A
Female Length at Maturity (cm)	N/A
Maturity/Temperature Relationship	N/A
Type of Reproduction	Gonochoristic, oviparous, iteroparous (Emmett et al. 1991)
Fecundity	Unknown (Emmett et al. 1991)
Spawning Habitat	N/A
Spawning Behavior	Broadcast spawner (Emmett et al. 1991)
Time of Year of Spawning	June and July (Washington) (Iversen and Hale 1992)
Number of Spawns per season	1 (Emmett et al. 1991)
Spawning/Temperature Relationship (°C)	Need temperatures above 14 (Holland and Chew 1974; Mann 1979; Bourne 1982 all in Emmett et al. 1991)
Spawning/Salinity Relationship	N/A
Description of Eggs	N/A
Habitat where Eggs are found	Pelagic (Emmett et al. 1991)
Days to Hatch	1–2 at 13–16°C (Emmett et al. 1991)
Time of Year when Eggs Hatch	N/A
Temperature for Egg Survival (°C)	N/A
Salinity for Egg Survival (ppt)	N/A
Predators on Eggs	N/A
Habitat where Larvae are found	Pelagic (Emmett et al. 1991)
Days in Larval Stage	21 (Iversen and Hale 1992)
Temperature for Larval Survival (°C)	0–36 (Robinson and Breese 1984 in Emmett et al. 1991) 23–25 (optimal) (Robinson and Breese 1984 in Emmett et al. 1991)
Salinity for Larval Survival (ppt)	20–30 (optimal) (Robinson and Breese 1984 in Emmett et al. 1991)
Larval Food Preference	N/A
Habitat where Juveniles are found	Benthic infauna down to 5–10 cm (Bourne 1982; Wolotira et al. 1989 in Emmett et al. 1991)
Length when Juvenile Settles out (cm)	0.02 (Williams 1978, 1980a in Emmett et al. 1991)
Temperature for Juvenile Survival (°C)	13–21 (optimal) (Bernard 1983b in Emmett et al. 1991)
Salinity for Juvenile Survival (ppt)	24–31 (optimal) (Bernard 1983b in Emmett et al. 1991)
Where and When Juvenile Feeds	N/A
Juvenile Food Preference	Suspended Detritus and Phytoplankton (Emmett et al. 1991)
Habitat where Adults are found (depth in meters)	Benthic infauna down to 5–10 cm (Bourne 1982; Wolotira et al. 1989 in Emmett et al. 1991)
Temperature for Adult Survival (°C)	13–21 (optimal) (Bernard 1983b in Emmett et al. 1991) Need temperatures above 14 for maturation (Holland and Chew 1974; Mann 1979; Bourne 1982 all in Emmett et al. 1991)
Salinity for Adult Survival (ppt)	24–31 (optimal) (Bernard 1983b in Emmett et al. 1991)
Adult Feeding Type	Suspension, filter feeder (Emmett et al. 1991)
Adult Food Preference	Suspended Detritus and Phytoplankton (Emmett et al. 1991)
Food Eaten in Laboratory Setting	55 mg/l optimal food suspension density (Bernard 1983b in Emmett et al. 1991) Survives in aquariums with open systems or with algal culture in a closed system (Anderson 2001)
Amount of Food Eaten in Laboratory Setting	N/A
Additional Laboratory Findings	N/A
Environmental Considerations	Highly tolerant of pollution (Fitch 1953 in Emmett et al. 1991) Can accumulate large amounts of pollution that are harmful to humans (Emmett et al. 1991) Extreme substrate temperatures can be lethal (Chew 1989 in Emmett et al. 1991)
Commercial Fishery	"...second-most important commercial clam species on the Pacific coast of North America (Emmett et al. 1991)."
Market	16–22 months to reach market size in Washington (Glock 1978 in Emmett et al. 1991)
Sold Fresh or Frozen	Fresh (Emmett et al. 1991)
Style Species is Sold	N/A
Additional Use of the Species	N/A
Shelf-life in Fresh State (days at 40°F)	N/A
Shelf-life in Frozen State (months at 0°F)	N/A
Shelf-life Canned (months)	N/A
Weight sold in Oregon (kg)	N/A
Ornamental Market	N/A
Parasites or Disease	Larval Trematode (Iversen and Hale 1992)
Additional Remarks	Accidentally introduced to the Pacific coast of the United States in 1930's (Emmett et al. 1991) Introduced to Pacific Northwest in 1930's and 1940's (Iversen and Hale 1992) Not believed to displace any native species due to its occurrence in the upper tidal zone (Emmett et al. 1991)
Location where Species has been Researched/Farmed	Puget Sound British Columbia Japan (Iversen and Hale 1992) Humbolt Bay, California (Emmett et al. 1991)
Appropriate Aquaculture Systems	N/A

Year	Total Catch (Pounds)	Ex-vessel Value ( U.S. Dollars)
1989	N/A	N/A
1990	N/A	N/A
1991	N/A	N/A
1992	N/A	N/A
1993	N/A	N/A
1994	N/A	N/A
1995	N/A	N/A
1996	N/A	N/A
1997	N/A	N/A
1998	N/A	N/A