# Ocean quahog (*Arctica islandica*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/ocean-quahog  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The ocean quahog (Arctica islandica) is a mollusc of the class Bivalvia, order Venerida and family Arcticidae. It is also called the Iceland cyprina or Icelandic cyprine, and its scientific name carries the authority (Linnaeus, 1767). Its lifespan is reported at up to 507 years, and the Catalogue of Life lists it as a living, not extinct, species.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Length | Not recorded |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Longest recorded lifespan | 507 years |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | marine |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Conservation status | Not recorded |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Mollusca
- class: Bivalvia
- order: Venerida
- family: Arcticidae
- genus: Arctica
- species: *Arctica islandica* (Linnaeus, 1767)

Synonyms: *Arctica islandica islandica*, *Arctica vulgaris*, *Cyprina islandica*, *Cyprina islandica var. crassior*, *Cyprina islandica var. inflata*, *Cyprina vulgaris*, *Pectunculus crassus*, *Venus buccardium*, *Venus ferröensis*, *Venus icelandica*, *Venus islandica*, *Venus pitar*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the ocean quahog?

The ocean quahog is a mollusc of the class Bivalvia, placed in the order Venerida and the family Arcticidae.

### How long does the ocean quahog live?

The ocean quahog's lifespan is reported at up to 507 years.

### What is the scientific name of the ocean quahog?

The scientific name of the ocean quahog is Arctica islandica, in the genus Arctica.

### What are other names for the ocean quahog?

The ocean quahog is also called the Iceland cyprina and the Icelandic cyprine.

### Is the ocean quahog extinct?

No, the Catalogue of Life lists the ocean quahog as living, not extinct.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Ocean quahog (Arctica islandica). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/ocean-quahog