About Giant Clams

• • Giant Clams are regarded as the largest Mollusks. 
    • Mollusks are an important phylum of invertebrate animals, having a soft body, no spine, and are often covered with a shell.

• A phylum is a grouping of related organisms on the basis of their fundamental characteristics.

• • The primary habitat of giant clams is on coral reefs, found in the South Pacific and Indian oceans.

• Giant Clams  share a symbiotic relationship with Algae. 

• A symbiotic relationship is a type of mutualistic relationship between two organisms that benefit from each other.

• Giant clams are filter feeders, taking in plankton through a large, central opening. 

• The algae inside Clams also produces metabolic waste products, which serve as a second nutritional source. This allows the clams to grow  even in nutrient-lacking waters. 

Threats

• The adductor muscle of the giant clam is actually considered a delicacy making them threatened.
• Overharvesting of the species for food, shells, and trade is threatening its survival.
• With coral bleaching events, the natural habitats for Giant Clams are affected.
• Coastal urbanization and increased sedimentation is affecting the population of Giant Clams.

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List : Vulnerable

Why in News ?

• The Philippines accused Chinese fishermen of causing damage to giant clams in disputed Scarborough Shoal.

Scarborough Shoal

• It is a disputed territory in the South China Sea, claimed by the Philippines and China.

Sources

• https://www.barrierreef.org/the-reef/animals/giant-clam

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_clam

• https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/facts/giant-clam