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| Giant Clam (Tridacna gigas) |
| Common Names: Giant Clam, Tilang dako,
Taklobo, Dagatan, Antulang (Cebuano); Taklobo (Tagalog), Manlot (Ilonggo) Discoverer: Linnaeus, 1758 Category: VULNERABLE Status: Description: Habitat/Distribution: Now restricte to Palawan and Cagayancillo in the Sulu Seas, but known to be distributed throughout the Philippines (Alcala 1990), Also in the Great Barrier Reef (Australia), Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and part of Micronesia. Habitat / Behavior: Sand among the corals in shallows reefs upto 20 m; some individuals may be exposed during low tide (Alcala 1990, Calumpong 1992) Threats: Overharvesting for food and shellcraft purposes Interesting Information: The largest clam in the giant clam species, attaining lengths of over 100cm, weights of 200-500 kg (Alcala, 1990). This species also known as the "killer clam" as it has been closing on divers and preventing them from resurfacing. (IUCN 1983) Conservation Efforts/Measures:Research on this species has been undertaken by SUML, UPMSI since 1984 for mariculture and restocking purposes (Claumping and Solis-Duran, 1993). UPMSI has been rearing larvae and juveniles from Solomon Island. Photograph Information: courtesy of Man and Molluscs |
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