Scientific name : Tridacna gigas
Class : Bivalvia (bivalve molluscs : oysters, mussels, cockles…)
Size : Up to 120 cm
Distribution : Indo-Pacific
Biology : Weighing up to 200 kg, the giant clam is the largest of all bivalve molluscs. It grows slowly and is thought to live well over a century.
Unfortunately, this animal is threatened by poaching, its meat is highly prized and its shell is a much sought-after collector’s item. With its slow reproductive cycle, the giant clam is finding it hard to cope with over-exploitation.
IUCN status : Vulnerable
