| Tridacna squamosa | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Bivalvia |
| Order: | Veneroida |
| Family: | Tridacnidae |
| Genus: | Tridacna |
| Species: | T. squamosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Tridacna squamosa Lamarck, 1819 |
|
Tridacna squamosa, colloquially known as the fluted giant clam, is one of a number of large clam species native to the shallow coral reefs of the South Pacific and Indian oceans. It is distinguished by the presence of large leaf-like fluted edges on its shell called 'scutes' and a byssal opening that is rather small as compared to other members of the Tridacnidae family. Normal coloration of the mantle ranges from browns and purples to greens and yellows arranged in elongated linear or spot-like patterns. Tridacna squamosa grows to 40 centimetres (16 in) across.
Sessile in adulthood, the creature's mantle tissues act as a habitat for the symbiotic single-celled dinoflagellate algae (zooxanthellae) from which it gets a major portion of its nutrition. By day, the clam spreads out its mantle tissue so that the algae receive the sunlight they need to photosynthesize.
Contents |
The native range of spans from South Africa to the Red Sea and out to the Marshall Islands.
Tridacna squamosa is sometimes kept in aquaria, where it requires a moderate amount of care. This species is a relatively hardy member of the Tridacnidae family.
A moderate amount of light is required by this species because it relies on zooxanthellae for part of its nutrition. These dinoflagellates use the mantle of Tridacna squamosa as a habitat to photosynthesize. However, it is not nearly as dependent on this photosynthesis as other Tridacnids such as Tridacna crocea or Tridacna maxima and also consumes phytoplankton to complete its diet.
Tridacna squamosa is a peaceful resident and does not harm other organisms, in the wild or otherwise. Despite its ability to shut completely, anemones, trigger fish and puffers may be predators in a domestic environment. It is also recommended that they not be kept with anemones as the anemone may move close to the clam and sting or eat it.
In aquaria, it should be kept lower in the display and although some specimens prefer lying in the substrate they will occasionally attach their byssal threads to rocks above the substrate.
All clams require good to excellent water quality, but may help reduce nitrate levels in a system. Clams are noted to consume free nitrates to a degree.
The IUCN lists the giant clams as lower risk.