Our Mexican chocolate clams will measure between approximately 4 inches and 4-1/4 inches. The Mexican Chocolate Clam, Megapitaria squalida, is a Venus Clam of the Veneridae Family, that is also known as the Chocolate Clam and in Mexico as almeja chocolate or just chocolate and almega negra. They are a heavy thick clam used in seashell crafts.  Our shells are Real - Not Imitation.  They will have natural imperfections from living in the oceans and aging.  They will vary in size, shape and coloring.  

 

Mexican Chocolate Clams have a thick and equivalve (both valves equal in size and shape) shell that has an ovate profile. The margin and anterior end of the shell are round; the posterior end slopes to a weak point. The external surface is smooth. The exterior of the shell is brown with radiating darker brown bands, from which it derives its name, and the interior is white, and may be marked with radiating purple bands. Mexican Chocolate Clams reach 13 cm (5.1 inches) in width.

 

Mexican Chocolate Clams are found buried in mud and sand substrate at depths up to 650 feet. They move to deeper waters as they mature. They range from Guerrero Negro, Baja California to Peru and are found in the Sea of Cortez from Bahia de Los Angeles, Baja California to the Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur.  They are an important food source for humans and sold commercially throughout Mexico.  They are also used as a cut bait for sportsfishing but on a limited basis as results are normally marginal.