Bear Paw Clam

Hippopus hippopus

• Group: Other
• Typical depth: 0–30 m
• Max size: 50 cm
• For divers: safe
• IUCN status: VU

This giant clam wedges itself among shallow lagoon and fringing reefs, growing to around half a metre across. It feeds partly by filtering the water and partly on sugars made by algae living in its tissue, and heavy collecting for food and shellcraft has left it vulnerable.

Taxonomy: Animalia › Mollusca › Bivalvia › Cardiida › Cardiidae › Hippopus

Species data via the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), AphiaID 216411.