What Does Geoduck Mean?

The Pacific geoduck is a species of very large saltwater clam in the family Hiatellidae. The common name is derived from the Lushootseed word gʷídəq. The geoduck is native to the coastal waters of western Canada and the northwest United States.

How did the geoduck get its name?

Geoducks (Panopea generosa) are native to the west coast of North America, and their name is derived from a phrase in the Nisqually language, gʷídəq, which means “dig deep.” When fully mature, Puget Sound geoducks weigh, on average, a bit over two pounds.

What exactly is a geoduck?

Geoduck is a large clam with simple anatomy. ... The geoduck is the world's largest burrowing clam, and typical specimens weigh between 2 and 3 pounds. It's far too big to retreat to its shell like other mollusks; instead, the massive neck promiscuously hangs outside in all its phallic glory.