Saxidomus, common name the "Washington clams", is a genus of large edible saltwater clams, marine bivalve mollusks in the family Veneridae, the Venus clams.
The species Saxidomus gigantea is known as the "butter clam".[1]
The term for saxitoxin (the neurotoxin found in paralytic shellfish poisoning) is derived from the genus name Saxidomus.
Species within the genus Saxidomus include:
| Image | Scientific name | Common Name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saxidomus gigantea | Butter clam | Western coast of North America, ranging from the Aleutian Islands to San Francisco Bay | |
| Saxidomus nuttalli | California butterclam and Washington clam | Northern California to Baja California | |
| Saxidomus purpurata | Purple butter clam | Western Pacific China and Japan | |