Saxidomus
Encyclopedia
Saxidomus, common name
"Washington clams", is a genus
of large edible saltwater clam
s, marine
bivalve mollusks in the family Veneridae
, the venus clams.
The species Saxidomus giganteus is known as the "butter clam".
The word saxitoxin
(the neurotoxin
found in paralytic shellfish poisoning
) is derived from the genus name Saxidomus.
Common name
A common name of a taxon or organism is a name in general use within a community; it is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism...
"Washington clams", is a genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of large edible saltwater clam
Clam
The word "clam" can be applied to freshwater mussels, and other freshwater bivalves, as well as marine bivalves.In the United States, "clam" can be used in several different ways: one, as a general term covering all bivalve molluscs...
s, marine
Marine (ocean)
Marine is an umbrella term. As an adjective it is usually applicable to things relating to the sea or ocean, such as marine biology, marine ecology and marine geology...
bivalve mollusks in the family Veneridae
Veneridae
The Veneridae or venerids, also known as the Venus clams, are a very large family of minute to large, saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs. There are over 500 living species of venerid bivalves, most of which are edible, and many of which are exploited as a food source.Many of the most...
, the venus clams.
The species Saxidomus giganteus is known as the "butter clam".
The word saxitoxin
Saxitoxin
Saxitoxin is a neurotoxin naturally produced by certain species of marine dinoflagellates and cyanobacteria Saxitoxin (STX) is a neurotoxin naturally produced by certain species of marine dinoflagellates (Alexandrium sp., Gymnodinium sp., Pyrodinium sp.) and cyanobacteria Saxitoxin (STX) is a...
(the neurotoxin
Neurotoxin
A neurotoxin is a toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells , usually by interacting with membrane proteins such as ion channels. Some sources are more general, and define the effect of neurotoxins as occurring at nerve tissue...
found in paralytic shellfish poisoning
Paralytic shellfish poisoning
Paralytic shellfish poisoning is one of the four recognized syndromes of shellfish poisoning, which share some common features and are primarily associated with bivalve mollusks . These shellfish are filter feeders and, therefore, accumulate toxins produced by microscopic algae, such as...
) is derived from the genus name Saxidomus.
Species
Species within the genus Saxidomus include:- Saxidomus giganteus
- Saxidomus nutalliSaxidomus nutalliSaxidomus nutalli, the California butterclam or butternut clam, is a species of large edible saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusk in the family Veneridae, the venus clams....
- Saxidomus purpurata