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

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]

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. 1 2 Saxidomus nuttalli. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
  2. 1 2 3 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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