Archaeology of Seafood

WHAT IS A BASS? It’s a generic name used for a family of fish who can live in fresh or saltwater.  The name itself is an old English version of “perch.”  Adults are predators that have no problem eating snakes, frogs, bats or your finger if it gets close enough.  Much like sharks, if it […]

WHAT IS A SQUID? These cephalopods have 8 arms and 2 longer tentacles.  The origin of the name isn’t known.  Some though have guessed that sailors originally called them “squirts” due to their habit of squirting ink when frightened.  The name was thought to have gradually evolved into the present day “squid.”  They basically look […]

WHAT IS A CRAB? With their sideways skitter and thick exoskeleton, these crustaceans are mobile tanks with an appetite .  Born with 8 legs and 2 pincers, they’re smart enough to use tools or even communicate by drumming.  While most aquatic life cannot live out of the water, crabs are a remarkable exception.  Unlike fish, […]

WHAT IS A SHRIMP? It is one of the smaller members of the crustacean family.  They’re thought to be the Neanderthal precursors of most of today’s larger arthopod pylum (invertebrate creatures with chitinous exoskeletons like spiders).  Shrimp are marine garbage men who live on the bottom of the sea.  As babies floating on water they […]

WHAT IS SALMON? One of the most popular oily fish to eat, this name actually covers several different species that are all members of the same family Salmonidae.  They are relatives of the trout and whitefish, but hatch in fresh water, migrate to the sea (salt water), and then return to their fresh water birthplace […]

WHAT IS A HAKE? It is a fish that comes in several colors.  Red and white hake are considered authentic whereas silver hake (a.k.a. whiting) is a close relative.  These fish are delicious despite a somewhat terrifying appearance.  With an elongated body, long head and tooth-filled jaws, they almost look like an eel.  A close […]

WHAT IS TUNA? This nomadic, saltwater fish favors warmer waters and is one of the larger predators of the sea.  They range in length from 1 foot (0.3 m) up to 15 feet (4.6 m).   Capable of weighing over 1,500 lbs (680 kg) and living for 50 years, they’re one of the few warm […]

WHAT IS TILAPIA? This freshwater native is, along with tuna and salmon, among the most popular fish on dinner plates today.  The secret behind their success is a combination of having a bland, non-threatening flavor and being less expensive then most other seafood.  This swimming entree is a hardy creature that can survive crowded conditions […]

WHAT IS A CLAM? It’s a popular name for several different types of fresh and saltwater bivalve mollusks.  They have 2 adductor muscles, 1 on each shell that allow them to open and close at “painful for your fingers” speeds. Clams feed mostly on plankton and live in groups beneath the sand.  Some breeds can […]

WHAT IS A SWORDFISH? These large marine predators are fearsome solitary hunters with a lifespan of about 10 years.  Also known as broadbills due their broadsword of a nose, they ironically lose all their teeth by adulthood.  Swordfish normally grow up to 10 feet (3 meters) in length (though the females are larger then the […]

WHAT IS A HALIBUT? This pancake of a fish is famous for being flat with both eyes on top.  They live on the bottom of the ocean floor and so their unique shape offers obvious evolutionary advantages.  Capable of growing to almost 9 feet (2.7 m) in length, their great size has lead to their […]

WHAT IS A BLOWFISH? So named as it’s one of the only fish in the sea capable of performing oral sex.  While this is completely untrue, puffer fish will in fact go to amazing lengths to get laid.  They’ll spend days meticulously building “love nests” with which to seduce potential mates.  To be fair, things […]

WHAT IS A SHARK? Thanks to Hollywood it is perhaps one of the most terrifying and misunderstood Apex predators still alive today.  Over 400 million years old, this fish is unique in that it doesn’t have a bony skeleton.  Instead their skeletal structure is made up of cartilage, like the flexible bone in your lower […]