The Giant Clam can reach lengths of up to 1.5 meters and weigh 300 kg. It is the largest mollusk species on Earth.
The Giant Clam has the scientific name Tridacna gigas, discovered in 1521. They are commonly found at depths of about 20 meters around coral reefs in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean and South Pacific, including the Spratly Islands of Vietnam.
They are incredibly colorful. Notably, they can live for up to 100 years.
The Giant Clam is a hermaphroditic species, laying eggs and releasing sperm into the water. The eggs are fertilized externally. The Giant Clam has only one chance in its lifetime to find a suitable habitat. Once a suitable coral reef is found, they will stay there for life.
The Giant Clam is a species of bivalve with a hard, thick shell and has 4-7 vertical folds on its shell. The shell of the giant clam also serves as a habitat for many small fish living in the coral reef. Inside the shell is a mantle layer that comes in various colors, including bronze, gold, or green. No two Giant Clams have the same color pattern on their mantle. The small spots on the mantle act like “windows” that allow sunlight to enter.
The mantle of the Giant Clam connects to two tubes leading to the external environment: one tube sucks water in to absorb floating plankton, while the other tube expels the filtered water. Each day, the Giant Clam can filter up to hundreds of liters of water. This natural filtering ability allows the Giant Clam to absorb harmful substances in seawater, such as ammonia and nitrates, helping to maintain the ecological balance of their habitat.
This giant mollusk survives by absorbing nutrients produced by billions of strands of algae living on its body. Additionally, they filter all types of plankton present in the water into their bodies and then expel water, retaining organic matter.
The siphon and meat of the Giant Clam are used to prepare many delicious and nutritious dishes. Besides using the meat for food, the shell is also used for decorative purposes or ground into powder for skincare products.
Overharvesting has led to a significant decline in the population of this species.
