The Pacific razor clam, ''Siliqua patula'', is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of large marine bivalve mollusc in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Pharidae Pharidae is a taxonomic family of saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs in the order Adapedonta. This family of clams is related to the razor shells, a family which is considered to include Pharidae by some authorities. Genera Genera within ...

Range

Pacific razor clams can be found along the Pacific West Coast of North America from the eastern

Aleutian Islands The Aleutian Islands (; ; ale, Unangam Tanangin,”Land of the Aleuts", possibly from Chukchi ''aliat'', "island"), also called the Aleut Islands or Aleutic Islands and known before 1867 as the Catherine Archipelago, are a chain of 14 large v ...

Alaska Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S. ...

, to

Pismo Beach, California Pismo Beach (Chumash: ''Pismuʔ'') is a city in the southern portion of San Luis Obispo County, in the Central Coast area of California, United States. The estimated population was 8,072 at the 2020 census, up from 7,655 in the 2010 census. It ...

. They inhabit sandy

beach A beach is a landform alongside a body of water which consists of loose particles. The particles composing a beach are typically made from rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles, etc., or biological sources, such as mollusc sh ...

es in the intertidal zone down to a maximum water depth of about .

Description

This species has an elongated oblong narrow shell, which ranges from in length in the southern portion of its range, with individuals up to found in Alaska. It is similar to the smaller Atlantic razor clam, ''Siliqua costata'', which is found on the East Coast of the United States. The name ''razor clam'' is also used for the

Atlantic jackknife clam The Atlantic jackknife clam, ''Ensis leei'', also known as the bamboo clam, American jackknife clam or razor clam, is a large edible marine bivalve mollusc found on the North American Atlantic coast, from Canada to South Carolina. The specie ...

, ''Ensis directus.'' The Atlantic jackknife clam's genus,

Ensis ''Ensis'' is a genus of medium-sized edible saltwater clams, littoral bivalve molluscs in the family Pharidae. ''Ensis'', or razor clams, are known in much of Scotland as spoots, for the spouts of water they eject while burrowing into the sa ...

, is different than the Pacific razor clam's genus,

Siliqua The siliqua (plural ''siliquae'') is the modern name given (without any ancient evidence to confirm the designation) to small, thin, Roman silver coins produced in the 4th century A.D. and later. When the coins were in circulation, the Latin wo ...

. However, they are both in the same family,

As food

Pacific razor clams are a highly desirable shellfish species and are collected by both commercial and recreational harvesters. Razor clams, like other shellfish, may accumulate dangerous levels of the marine toxin

domoic acid Domoic acid (DA) is a kainic acid-type neurotoxin that causes amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP). It is produced by algae and accumulates in shellfish, sardines, and anchovies. When sea lions, otters, cetaceans, humans, and other predators eat c ...

. Harvesters should check current public health recommendations by marine authorities before collecting razor clams. In the United States, razor clam harvesting is typically authorized by state officials several times a year. Harvesters locate the clam by looking for a "show," which can present as either a hole or depression in the sand. Some clams expose their siphons as the surf is receding making them far easier to spot; this behavior is called "necking". Razor clams are commonly battered and fried in

butter Butter is a dairy product made from the fat and protein components of churned cream. It is a semi-solid emulsion at room temperature, consisting of approximately 80% butterfat. It is used at room temperature as a spread, melted as a condiment ...

. They can also be used to make

clam chowder Clam chowder is any of several chowder soups in American cuisine containing clams. In addition to clams, common ingredients include diced potatoes, salt pork, and onions. Other vegetables are not typically used. It is believed that clams were ...

References

External links

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife: About razor clams (''Siliqua'' species)

A pacific razor clam burrows rapidly into the sand
{{taxonbar, from=Q1956289 Pharidae Marine molluscs of North America Molluscs of the Pacific Ocean Western North American coastal fauna Fauna of Alaska Fauna of California Bivalves described in 1788