giant clam
Huge reef mollusk
A giant clam is any of several species of massive bivalve mollusks found in tropical Indo-Pacific waters, capable of growing over four feet across and weighing hundreds of pounds.
They embed in coral reefs and cannot close their shells completely.
Despite old adventure-story lore, they pose no real danger to divers: The giant clam's colorful mantle rippled in the current.
Two-shelled mollusk
- shellHard outer covering
- mantleCovering or wrap
- siphonLiquid transfer tube
- adductorMuscle pulling toward center
valve · hinge · nacre · iridescence · lips · tissue · gills · foot
Calcium carbonate marine ecosystem
- Indo-PacificCombined ocean region
- tropicalOf hot, humid regions
- shallow waterLow-depth aquatic area
- lagoonSheltered coastal shallows
marine · sandy bottom · seagrass · atoll · Palau · Great Barrier Reef · Philippines · Indonesia
Refined sensitivity or rarity
- sashimiThinly sliced raw fish
- rawIn original state
- harvestedGathered ripe crops
- sustainableAble to endure long-term
overfished · aquaculture · Pacific Islander · Filipino · Asian cuisine · seafood · tender · prized
Extremely large in scale
- massiveExtremely large and heavy
- colossalExtremely large in scale
- heavyOf great mass
- record-breakingExceeding prior bests
At risk of extinction
- CITESWildlife trade agreement
- protectedKept from harm
- threatenedExpressed intent to harm
- poachingUnlawful wildlife capture
overharvesting · captive breeding · restoration · marine sanctuary · repopulation · sustainable · monitoring · extinction risk
For beauty, not function
- decorativeServing to beautify
- basinConcave water receptacle
- holy water fontVessel holding blessed liquid
- mother-of-pearlIridescent inner shell coating
inlay · jewelry · traditional · artifact · collectible · trade · export
Beast that hunts humans
- legendUnverified traditional tale
- folkloreInherited cultural narratives
- exaggeratedMade larger than reality
- HollywoodAmerican film industry center
monster · fearsome · misunderstood · myth
bivalve
Two-shelled mollusk
adductor · valve · hinge · nacre · iridescence · lips · tissue · gills · foot · calcium carbonate
coral reef
Calcium carbonate marine ecosystem
- Indo-PacificCombined ocean region
- tropicalOf hot, humid regions
- shallow waterLow-depth aquatic area
lagoon · marine · sandy bottom · seagrass · atoll · Palau · Great Barrier Reef · Philippines · Indonesia · Micronesia
delicacy
Refined sensitivity or rarity
sustainable · overfished · aquaculture · Pacific Islander · Filipino · Asian cuisine · seafood · tender · prized
enormous
Extremely large in scale
record-breaking · immense · weighty · bulky · oversized
endangered
At risk of extinction
- CITESWildlife trade agreement
- protectedKept from harm
- threatenedExpressed intent to harm
poaching · overharvesting · captive breeding · restoration · marine sanctuary · repopulation · sustainable · monitoring · extinction risk · illegal trade
ornamental
For beauty, not function
- decorativeServing to beautify
- basinConcave water receptacle
- holy water fontVessel holding blessed liquid
mother-of-pearl · inlay · jewelry · traditional · artifact · collectible · trade · export
man-eater
Beast that hunts humans
- legendUnverified traditional tale
- folkloreInherited cultural narratives
- exaggeratedMade larger than reality
Hollywood · monster · fearsome · misunderstood · myth
- giant clams
- marine lifeshark, sea turtles, manatees, whale, dolphins
- ocean lifeocean, sea, sea creatures, shark, sea life
- sea lifeshark, whale, dolphin, salmon, jellyfish
- invertebratesinvertebrate, arthropod, arthropods, mollusk, crustacean
- bivalvesclams, mussels, scallops, mussel, cockles
giant, gigantic, clam, clammy, giantess, gigantism, giantesses, giant clams