Saxidomus nuttalli

The Butternut Clam

Phylulm Mollusca
Class Bivalvia
Order Veneroida
Family Veneridae
Genus Saxidomus
Species nuttalli

Description: 15 cm long, 10 cm high; tan or grayish, sometimes with black or rusty stains; oval and oblong with heavy, thick valves; closely resembles S. giganteus, but is usually larger, and the concentric ridges formed by growth rings are more prominent and raised.

Habitat: Found in sandy or muddy mixed areas at or near the lower-tide lines.

Natural History: Slightly larger than the Butter clam, and often mistaken for it. This clam is found in protected bays and near estuaries and is an important food item both commercially and naturally. A commensal Pinnotherid crab, Pinnixa littoralis, is symbiotic with this clam and can sometimes be found in its mantle. The potent paralytic shellfish poison, Saxitoxin, gets its name from this clam.