The Pacific razor clam, Siliqua patula, is a species of large edible marine bivalve mollusc in the family Veneridae. Pacific razor clams can be found along the Pacific West Coast from the eastern Aleutian Islands, Alaska, to Pismo Beach, California. They inhabit sandy beaches in the intertidal zone down to a maximum depth of about 30 feet.
This species is a rapid digger, as shown by this series of photos taken within a short time of one another. In the photo above, the posterior end with the siphons is to the left. The foot has been extended out of the anterior end of the shell on the right, pressed into the sand, expanded, and is being retracted to pull the shell downward. In the photo below the clam has pulled itself farther into the sand and is proceeding to bury itself out of sight. Photos on low intertidal beach at Kalaloch, WA by Dave Cowles July, 2005
The shell is white with a pinkish tinge inside. It has a supporting rib running from the hinge toward the ventral side at about a 30 degree angle. The shell is thin and fragile. Photo by Dave Cowles, October 2005
Siliqua patula, about 11 cm long, at Kalaloch, WA. The hinge is on the lower side in this photo and the foot is starting to be extended for digging (Photo by: Dave Cowles, July 2005)
