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Bivalves ~ Giant Clam

Bivalves ~ Giant Clam. Madison, Victoria, Joey, Cullen. Bivalves. Our class of mollusk is Bivalves Common name is Giant Clams Scientific name is Tridacna Gigas Animals in this class include: - Mussels - Oysters -Clams -Scallops. Habitat.

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Bivalves ~ Giant Clam

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  1. Bivalves ~ Giant Clam Madison, Victoria, Joey, Cullen

  2. Bivalves • Our class of mollusk is Bivalves • Common name is Giant Clams • Scientific name is TridacnaGigas • Animals in this class include: - Mussels - Oysters -Clams -Scallops

  3. Habitat • Found in the tropical oceans from the South Central Pacific through the Coral Sea, Indian Ocean, and up to the Red Sea. • They live right on coral reefs in very shallow waters • Live in a shells, the shells are made out of calcium carbonate. Two rounded halves which are usually mirror images of each other. • The shells are joined at one edge by a flexible ligament.

  4. Feeding • Giant clams filter water through their gills to extract tiny animals and or minute plants for food. • All giant clams also contain microscopic algae in their mantles. • The algae produce food that can also be used by the clam. These microscopic plants contribute to the beautiful colors and patterns on the clam.

  5. Reproduction • Giant Clams are hermaphrodites, they produce both sperm and eggs. • They are able to release 500 million eggs at a time • They release sperm and eggs into the water. A transmitter substance called Spawning Induced Substance helps synchronize the release of sperm and eggs to ensure fertilization. • http://www.arkive.org/giant-clam/tridacna-gigas/video-09.html

  6. Movement • Since giant clams cannot move themselves, they adopt broadcast spawning. • Young Giant Clams can move with the oceans currents, when they are still very little and haven’t settled on the ocean floor yet. • Giant clams shells are two mirror images of each other that can open and close. They are joined at one edge by a flexible ligament which conjunction with the interlocking motion. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO44qj7evA4&feature=related

  7. Interesting Facts • Total number of living bivalve species is around 9,200 • The largest recent marine families are Veneridae with around 630 species. • Giant clams can live for more then 100 years. • Start life as males and later on become hermaphrodites. • Can weigh up from 10 to 20 kilograms.

  8. Larval stage • It takes 3-10 years for giant clams to mature from larvae into a clam

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