Giant clams are large mollusks belonging to the Tridacna family. Like oysters and mussels, giant clams are bivalves. This means that they have no head, and a compressed body hidden in a shell that has two hinged parts. The largest species, known as the gigas giant clam, is the largest mollusk in the world. However, despite their reputations as man-eaters and sea monsters, giant clams are gentle giants capable of producing gorgeous, rare pearls.
Meet them:
Like corals, the giant clam lives in partnership with tiny plantlike algae (call Zooxanthellae) that reside inside the clams tissues. And as with corals, the arrangement helps both creatures. The algae gain protection from grazing animals: the clam grows large with benefit of food produced by algae.
Diet:
Sugars and proteins produced by the algae living in its tissues; tiny, drifting plants and animals filtered from the water.
