Saxidomus nuttalli is a species of large edible saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusk in the family Veneridae, the venus clams.Saxidomus nuttalli. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). Common names include California butterclam and Washington clam.Washington Clam (Saxidomus nuttalli). Encyclopedia of the National Marine Sanctuaries, NOAA.

This clam is native to the west coast of North America, its distribution extending from northern California to Baja California.

This is a commercially exploited species that attains a length of approximately 15 cm.Intertidal, 2008

Archaeology This species was harvested by Chumash peoples on the central California coast, at least as early as the Millingstone Horizon.C.M.Hogan, 2008 The shells were used as currency by local native peoples.

See also Intertidal zone

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References Intertidal Marine Invertebrates of the South Puget Sound (2008) C.Michael Hogan (2008) Morro Creek, The Megaltihic Portal, editor Andy Burnham