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Pacific geoduck: The large, phallic clam that can live longer than 165 years

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Name: Pacific geoduck (Panopea generosa)

Where it lives: In the Pacific Ocean, off the west coast of North America (Alaska to Baja California, Mexico)

What it eats: Phytoplankton, pelagic crustaceans and fish larvae

Why it's awesome: Pacific geoducks are large, saltwater clams that can live longer than 165 years. These phallic-looking sea creatures have very long necks called siphons and are considered a culinary delicacy.

The name geoduck — pronounced "gooey duck" — is thought to come from the Native American Nisqually word "gweduc," which means "dig deep." They are the largest burrowing clams in the world and live in the ocean floor to a depth of 3 feet (1 meter).

Geoducks are bivalves, which means their bodies are compressed between a shell that consists of two hinged parts. They have a foot, which helps them dig into the sediment and anchor to the ground. To eat, the mollusk sucks in seawater, filters it for plankton and nutrients, and squirts out the excess through its siphon. This appendage has two openings at the end — one for taking in oxygen and phytoplankton, and one for releasing excess water.

Related: 10 phallic flora and fauna that look just like penises

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