Saxidomus nuttalli

Saxidomus nuttalli is a species of large edible saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusk in the family Veneridae, the venus clams.[1] Common names include California butterclam[1] and Washington clam.[2]

Saxidomus nuttalli
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Subclass: Heterodonta
Order: Venerida
Superfamily: Veneroidea
Family: Veneridae
Genus: Saxidomus
Species:
S. nuttalli
Binomial name
Saxidomus nuttalli
Dixon, 1788

This clam is native to the west coast of North America, its distribution extending from northern California to Baja California.[2]

This is a commercially exploited species that attains a length of approximately 15 cm.[3]

Archaeology

This species was harvested by Chumash peoples on the central California coast, at least as early as the Millingstone Horizon.[4] The shells were used as currency by local native peoples.[2]

See also

Line notes

  1. Saxidomus nuttalli. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
  2. Washington Clam (Saxidomus nuttalli). Encyclopedia of the National Marine Sanctuaries, NOAA.
  3. Intertidal, 2008
  4. C.M.Hogan, 2008

References

  • Intertidal Marine Invertebrates of the South Puget Sound (2008)
  • C.Michael Hogan (2008) Morro Creek, The Megaltihic Portal, editor Andy Burnham


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