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Panope abrupta
Common name(s): Geoduck, King Clam
Size:
Up to 195 mm (shell only, entire animal can exceed 1 m when extended)
Range:
Alaska to California, most abundant in Puget Sound and Straight of Georgia.
Habitat:
Intertidal to 100 m+. Prefers soft mud, pea gravel, stable mud and sand substrates in bays, sloughs, and estuaries burrowing up to 100 cm deep.
Misidentification:
The largest burrowing clam in the world, this species can live to be over 120 years old. Like Mya arenaria, after reaching maturity (60-100 mm for males and 100-120 mm for females) Panope abrupta out grows its foot and stops burrowing. This species spawns once a year between April and July.
Predators:
Pisaster spp., Pycnopodia helianthoides, the siphon tips are eaten by Leptocottus armatus the Pacific Staghorn Sculpin.
*"Size" refers to shell length only and only gives the largest average size for the given species.
Last updated Tuesday, August 29, 2006, by Lisa Ferrier
