Invertebrates
Geoduck
Panopea generosa · also called geoducks, king clam
Buried deep in Pacific coastal sediment, a geoduck has likely been sitting in almost exactly the same spot for decades, its improbably long siphon reaching up to the surface to feed while the rest of its body remains hidden and protected below, exactly as it has for most of a lifespan that can stretch past a century.
Overview
The geoduck, Panopea generosa, is the largest burrowing clam species in the world, native to coastal waters along the Pacific coast of North America. Its exceptionally long, permanently exposed siphon and remarkable lifespan make it one of the more distinctive bivalves anywhere in the ocean.
A life measured in decades, not seasons
While most clams live only a handful of years, a geoduck can remain buried in the same patch of sediment for over a century, quietly filtering plankton through a siphon that never fully retreats back into the safety of its own shell.
Status
Least Concern — widespread and stable along suitable sediment habitat across the Pacific coast of North America.
Geoduck: common questions
Why can't a geoduck pull its siphon all the way into its shell?
A geoduck's siphon is so exceptionally long relative to its shell that it can never be fully withdrawn back inside the shell, unlike most other clam species, leaving the siphon permanently exposed above the sediment surface even while the rest of the animal remains buried and protected below.
How long can a geoduck live?
Individual geoducks have been documented living well over 100 years, making the species one of the longest-lived animals of its kind, with researchers able to determine an individual's age fairly precisely by counting growth rings preserved within its shell, much like counting rings in a tree trunk.
Why is the geoduck commercially valuable?
The geoduck supports a significant commercial fishery, particularly in the Pacific Northwest of North America, where it is highly valued in seafood markets, especially across parts of Asia, with its large size and distinctive long siphon making it a recognisable and sought-after seafood product.
Where does the geoduck live?
The geoduck is native to coastal waters along the Pacific coast of North America, where it burrows deep into sandy or muddy sediment in intertidal and subtidal zones and remains there for essentially its entire adult life, extending only its long siphon to the surface to feed.