# Purple Mahogany Clam (*nuttallia obscurata*) The Purple Mahogany Clam is a special kind of clam that has a beautiful purple shell! It loves to live in sandy ocean floors where it can dig and hide. - **Category:** [Invertebrate](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/invertebrate) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Habitat:** Sandy ocean floors in coastal waters - **Also known as:** Mahogany Clam, Nuttall's Clam, Purple Clam ![Purple Mahogany Clam](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/320_Nuttallia_obscurata%252C_Nameri_river.jpg&width=800) Photo: Kasakasa719, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:320_Nuttallia_obscurata%252C_Nameri_river.jpg) ## Appearance The Purple Mahogany Clam has a smooth, oval shell that is a dull brownish-purple or mahogany color on the outside. Its most striking feature is the vibrant purple color on the inside of its shell, especially towards the hinge, making it visually distinct. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Mollusca - **Class:** Bivalvia - **Order:** Cardiida - **Family:** Psammobiidae - **Genus:** Nuttallia ## Interesting facts - It can squirt out jets of water if you disturb its comfy burrow! - It uses two tubes, called siphons, to breathe and eat without moving! - Purple Mahogany Clams sometimes hitchhike across oceans by clinging to boats! - This clam can grow "rings" on its shell, telling its age, just like a tree! ## Special abilities - **Water Filter:** Purple Mahogany Clam can filter huge amounts of water because of its siphons that help them gather tiny food particles. - **Quick Digger:** Purple Mahogany Clam can rapidly burrow into sand and mud using its strong muscular foot that helps them escape predators quickly. - **Shell Protector:** Purple Mahogany Clam has a thick, tough shell that helps them stay safe from hungry predators and strong ocean currents. ## Measurements & details - **Lifespan:** 12 years - **Maximum Depth:** 0-10 - **Avg Shell Length:** 5 cm - **Max Shell Length:** 8 cm ## Diet & Feeding This clam filters tiny particles like algae and plant bits from the water for its food. - **Primary Foods:** phytoplankton, zooplankton, detritus - **Foraging Method:** Filter feeding ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Ochre Sea Star](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ochre-sea-star) (*Pisaster ochraceus*) — Major predator on clams. - **Eaten by:** Red Rock Crab (*Cancer productus*) — Crushes shells to eat. - **Eaten by:** [Black Oystercatcher](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-oystercatcher) (*Haematopus bachmani*) — Pries open clam shells. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Filter Feeder](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/filter-feeder): Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. ## Collections - [Invertebrates](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/invertebrates) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Purple Mahogany Clam? Compare the overall shape, opening, spiral, ribs, hinge and surface sculpture. Beach shells often lose the colors and sharp edges they had on the living animal, so shape does most of the work. Seashell Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long does Purple Mahogany Clam live? 12 years ### What does Purple Mahogany Clam eat? This clam filters tiny particles like algae and plant bits from the water for its food. ### Where is Purple Mahogany Clam usually found? Sandy ocean floors in coastal waters ### How does Purple Mahogany Clam hunt? Filter feeding ### How deep can Purple Mahogany Clam go? 0-10 ### What is the avg Shell Length of Purple Mahogany Clam? 5 cm ### What is the max Shell Length of Purple Mahogany Clam? 8 cm ## Where to spot - [Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rathtrevor-beach-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Gabriola Sands Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gabriola-sands-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Bataan Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bataan-park) — Washington, US · Park [View all places to see Purple Mahogany Clam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/purple-mahogany-clam) ## More Invertebrate - [Coral](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coral) - [Crab Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/crab-spider) (*Mecaphesa asperata*) - [Garden Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-spider) (*Araneus diadematus*) - [Brown Recluse Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-recluse-spider) (*Loxosceles reclusa*) --- Source: [Purple Mahogany Clam: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/purple-mahogany-clam)