Species profile
Pacific Razor Clam
Siliqua patula
Identify Pacific Razor Clam (Siliqua patula) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 12 jurisdictions.
At a glance
Pacific Razor Clam (Siliqua patula) is a bivalve mollusk regulated in 14 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 1 (Georgia); the most generous is 300 (Federal Waters (DFO)).
Confirmed by 1,708 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Pacific razor clams can bury themselves completely in wet sand in under a minute.
- Their thin, elongated shells can grow to 6–7 inches (15–18 cm) in length.
- They can live 15 years or more, with growth rings visible on the shell.
- Razor clamming on Pacific Northwest beaches is a celebrated recreational tradition.
- They feed by filtering plankton and organic particles from surrounding seawater.
Where Pacific Razor Clam are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Pacific Razor Clam
Background
The Pacific razor clam, Siliqua patula, is a species of large edible marine bivalve mollusc in the family Pharidae.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Pacific Razor Clam article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other clams/oysters/mussels on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Pacific Razor Clam?
Pacific Razor Clam (Siliqua patula) is a bivalve mollusk regulated in 14 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Pacific Razor Clam?
Pacific Razor Clam is Siliqua patula.
Is Pacific Razor Clam regulated for fishing?
Yes — Pacific Razor Clam has fishing regulations in 12 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Pacific Razor Clam?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Pacific Razor Clam along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.