> We had a program one year at the COA convention about ages of mollusks. The
> prize went to a deep water clam off Nova Scotia (and now being fished,
> unfortunately) that lives nearly 240 years.

Arctica islandica, though not all populations have such long
lifespans.  Scandinavian populations of Margaritifera margaritifera
can pass two centuries as well.  Some deep-sea species may also have
extremely long lives, but are small enough to make analysis of growth
rings difficult.

Tridacna grow fast, so despite their size they aren't extremely
long-lived (very respectable by invertebrate average but not much
compared to 200).

--
Dr. David Campbell
425 Scientific Collections
University of Alabama
"I think of my happy condition, surrounded by acres of clams"

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