Chocolate Clam, Mexican Chocolate Clam
Chocolate, Almeja Chocolata, Almeja Negra
(Megapitaria squalida)

Mexican Chocolate Clam, Megapitaria squalida: The Mexican Chocolate Clam has a uniformly colored brown shell. It is the largest West Coast bivalve, reaching about 5 to 6 inches across.

Distribution in Mexico

In Mexico the Chocolate Clam is found in all coastal lagoons from Magdalena Bay south along the Pacific side of Baja, throughout the Sea of Cortez, and along the coast of the mainland to Guatemala.

It is the primary shellfish collected from the La Paz lagoon, totaling 1,300 tons per year, but the amounts are declining. The Mexican Chocolate Clam is also the topic of some scientific publications noting the presence of paralytic shellfish toxins.

The Mexican Chocolate Clam is a member of the Veneridae Family of hard-shelled bivalves also known as venus clams. Globally there are 400 species all of which have solid, rounded shells. They colonize in sandy bottoms in very large, dense populations. They are an important food source and the Mexican Chocolate Clam is sold commercially in Mexico for food.

Local commercial fishermen recommend the Mexican Chocolate Clam as bait to be sent "down deep" as a component of a traditional bottom fishing rig attached to size 1/0 hooks.

At certain times of the year these clams can be found in local Mexican markets, either in the shell or as fresh clams (see photos below), marketed as "Pulpa de Almeja" at prices of less than 50 pesos per kilogram (about $2 per pound). For conchologists the shell may be purchased via the internet for approximately $10.

Mexican Chocolate Clam picture 1

Mexican Chocolate Clam picture 2

Mexican Chocolate Clam, Megapitaria squalida: Purchased in a local market in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Pictured shell approximately 5 inches. Description and photos courtesy of John Snow.

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