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Clinocardium nuttallii
Clinocardium nuttallii is a large edible saltwater clam. It has brilliantly evolved over time to deter seagulls from eating it with a thick shell and grooves that interlock keeping the shell margin from slipping when dropped or squeezed.
Spotted at a sandy beach near the Makah Tribal Marina at Neah Bay.
Native to the coastlines of California and the Pacific Northwest, this species can be found from the Bering Sea to Southern California and has been used by the indigenous peoples of California and the Pacific Northwest as food. (Wikipedia)
Spotted on May 18, 2019
Submitted on May 25, 2019
2 Comments
Thank you Neil. This one was about 9 cm. They can grow to a max. of 14 cm. Fairly common on sandy-gravely protected beaches. Didn't see its foot.
Nice spotting, Brian. How big was this clam, and did you see it hopping along with its foot? Awesome photos and notes.