Bivalves
Family Solenidae & Pharidae
Click on photo to enlarge. Scale line in photo equals 1cm unless otherwise specified.
* Species which are commonly encountered on the beach.
Siliqua patula (Dixon, 1789)
Pacific Razor-Clam *
intertidal to 55m size to 190mm
California to Cook Inlet, Alaska
This is a common open coast species and is highly prized by clam
diggers, although its harvest season is strictly regulated. It has a
highly polished periostracum. Its internal rib is angled.
Solen sicarius A.A. Gould, 1850
Sickle Jackknife-Clam *
mid to lower intertidal zone size to 103mm
northern Mexico to Haida Gwaii, BC
This shell is a common species. It lives in the sand and mud of sheltered bays. It is our only Solen species in the northwest.
Siliqua alta (Broderip & Sowerby, 1829)
Alaska Razor-Clam
low intertidal to 85m size to 200mm
California to northern Alaska
This is more likely to be seen only subtidally. It is more robust than Siliqua patula and the internal rib is nearly vertical. Grows much smaller in its southern range.
This page last revised: 3-17-2012
