Pacific razor clam

Pacific razor clam
A live Pacific razor clam in water
A group of Siliqua patula dug from Quinault Beach, Washington state

Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Adapedonta
Family: Pharidae
Genus: Siliqua
Species:
S. patula
Binomial name
Siliqua patula
(Dixon, 1788)
Synonyms
  • Solen patulus Dixon, 1788
  • Solecurtus nuttallii (Conrad), 1837
  • Solen nuttallii Conrad, 1837

The Pacific razor clam, Siliqua patula, is a large mollusc native to North America belonging to the family Pharidae. Pacific razor clams are sexually dimorphic, but as with all clams, there is no way to tell the difference between sexes without dissecting them or evaluating them under a microscope. The shell ranges in colours as the clams grow, starting out brown, and turning to a more yellow colour as the clam matures, eventually turning brown once more as the clam reaches a larger size. It ranges from around 4-12 inches, and eats minuscule life in the ocean, such as plankton or plants. The Pacific razor clam is famously known for its delicious flavour, which makes it a largely hunted and coveted organism.