Tridacna is a genus of bivalve molluscs, clams, which inhabit the shallow waters of warm seas in the Indo-Pacific region. Species belonging to this genus have an extremely large mantle displaying brilliant colours, the tissue of which is occupied by photosynthetic algae — zooxanthellae.
The symbiotic relationship with these algae enables the mollusc to secure up to 70-100% of the nutrients it needs, while filtering sea water to make up the remainder. There are ten species of tridacna, but only Tridacna gigas grows to more than one metre in length. Our specimen, which measures 97 cm in diameter and weighs around 200 kg, is one of the biggest exhibited in Italy.
