Geoduck

Taxonomy
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Veneroida
Family: Hiatellidae

Distribution
Widespread, in sheltered to moderately exposed brackish or outer coastal areas.

Habitat
Fine mud through sand to gravel; may be abundant in eelgrass; burrows up to 1 m; planktonic larvae dispersed by currents; adults create semi-permanent burrow.

Tidal Elevation
Subtidal, from 8 to 120 m depth; may occur in lower intertidal; occurs higher in intertidal in north coast; most common between 9-18 m subtidal.

Growth Rate
Slow; sexually mature by 3 yr; reaches 16 cm in 10 yr, little change in length in remaining yr; may weigh up to 4.5 kg. Geoducks have been aged up to 146 years old.

Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada