Giant Clam (Tridacna spp.)
Giant Clam (Tridacna spp.)
Tridacna spp.
Protected Status
ESA Candidate
Throughout Its Range
CITES Appendix II
Throughout Its Range
Quick Facts
Weight
Up to 500 pounds
Length
Up to 4.5 feet
Lifespan
100 years
Threats
Climate change,
Disease,
Habitat degradation,
Illegal trade and poaching,
Overfishing,
Sedimentation and pollution
Region
Pacific Islands
Giant clams. © Doug Helton, WOD submission
Giant clams. © Doug Helton, WOD submission
About the Species
Giant clams are the largest living marine bivalves and typically inhabit tropical coral reefs in coastal regions throughout the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Giant clams are members of the Subfamily Tridacninae, which consists of two genera: Hippopus and Tridacna.
Currently, seven giant clam species are candidate species for listing under the Endangered Species Act. This includes two species in the genus Hippopus (H. hippopus and H. porcellanus) and five species in the genus Tridacna (T. derasa, T. gigas, T. mbalavuana (tevoroa), T. squamosa, and T. squamosina (costata).
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia | Phylum | Mollusca | Class | Bivalvia | Order | Cardiida | Family | Cardiidae | Genus | Tridacna | Species |
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Featured News
A grant project in Guam is setting up giant clam aquaculture in two southern villages, Inalåhan and Malesso. Giant clams are a culturally important species in Guam, where they’re also regulated due to overharvesting. Credit: David Burdick
Fifteen of the 83 species included in the Pacific Islands vulnerability assessment. From left to right: Acanthurus achilles, Caranx melampygus, Tripneustes gratilla, Acanthurus triostegus, Scarus rubroviolaceus, Cephalopholis argus, Octopus cyanea, Lutjanus kasmira, Panulirus penicillatus, Triaenodon obesus, Selar crumenophthalmus, Ctenochaetus strigosus, Naso unicornis, Zebrasoma flavescens, Tridacna maxima. Photo credit: Bruce Mundy.
