Pacific Razor Clam Animal Information
Pacific Razor Clam (Siliqua patula) - Pail and shovel in hand you follow the morning tide out along the sandy windswept beach. Watching the eagles and gulls dance in the sky combined with the smell of fresh ocean air, sets your spirit soaring. Eventually the tide chases you in with a heavy bucket full of clams and fingertips worn raw from digging. Clamming is a fun and inexpensive family sport, which can be enjoyed by people of all ages. To go clam digging you need good boots, warm clothing, a clam shovel/clam gun, a bucket and a fishing license. The Pacific razor clam got its name because when closed it looks like an old-fashioned straight razor. They are one of the tastiest clams, slightly sweet with a rich ocean flavor. The razor clam is a bivalve mollusk, with a narrow and elongated shell. The outside of their oblong shell is golden brown and olive green, while the interior is pearlish white and purple. When razor clams reach 5 millimeters in size, they settle into the sand. Since they can only move vertically, they will spend the remainder of their life in this one spot. They can live to be approximately 18 years old with an average size of 4 to 6 inches.
