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
- ^ a b Saxidomus nuttalli. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
- ^ a b c Washington Clam (Saxidomus nuttalli). Encyclopedia of the National Marine Sanctuaries, NOAA.
- ^ Intertidal, 2008
- ^ C.M.Hogan, 2008
References
- Intertidal Marine Invertebrates of the South Puget Sound (2008) [1]
- C.Michael Hogan (2008) Morro Creek, The Megaltihic Portal, editor Andy Burnham [2]
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| Marine gastropods |  | |
| Land and freshwater gastropods | ||
| Free-swimming marine bivalves | ||
| Infaunal bivalves | ||
| Sessile bivalves | ||
| Freshwater bivalves | ||
| Cephalopods | ||
| Techniques | ||