About Tridacna maxima (Röding, 1798)
This species, Tridacna maxima, is a bivalve. Like all bivalves, it has two valves surrounding its mantle. It siphons water through its body, using its gills to extract oxygen from the water, and feeds on algae. Individuals of this species reach less than one-third the size of the true giant clam, Tridacna gigas. Among all giant clam species, the small giant clam Tridacna maxima has the widest geographic range. It is found in oceans surrounding East Africa, India, China, Australia, Southeast Asia, the Red Sea, and the islands of the Pacific. It lives in well-lit areas, on reef surfaces, on sand, or partly embedded in coral. This habitat preference comes from its symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic algae, which require sunlight to produce energy.
