Giant Clam (Tridacna spp.)
Tridacna spp.
![640x420-Giant-Clam.jpg](/s3//styles/original/s3/dam-migration/640x420-giant-clam.jpg?itok=dF_wGrL0)
Protection Status
Quick Facts
![Photo of three giant clams taken from above. Clams have golden brown and reddish brown color with ripple appearance.](/s3//styles/full_width/s3/dam-migration/giant-clam.jpg?itok=GZBr6Yl-)
Giant clams. © Doug Helton, WOD submission
About the Species
![Photo of three giant clams taken from above. Clams have golden brown and reddish brown color with ripple appearance.](/s3//styles/full_width/s3/dam-migration/giant-clam.jpg?itok=GZBr6Yl-)
Giant clams. © Doug Helton, WOD submission
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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Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 09/15/2022
Featured News
![Zoomed in of a giant clam from Guam.](/s3//styles/inline_field_thumbnail/s3/2022-08/750x500-giant-clam-guam-david-burdick.jpg?h=9e499333&itok=YFhVsXoV)
![A photo of several of the species at risk: 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.](/s3//styles/inline_field_thumbnail/s3/2022-08/image1.png?h=1a54ef28&itok=sMNlSu6B)
Management Overview
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).
Regulatory History
In 2016, we were petitioned to list 10 species of giant clam as endangered or threatened under the ESA.
We reviewed the petition and determined that a status review should be conducted for Tridacna derasa, Tridacna gigas, Tridacna mbalavuana, Tridacna squamosa, and Tridacna squamosina. A status review is currently underway.
Key Actions and Documents
Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 09/15/2022