"🦠 Sex-Swapping, Reef-Building, Dying: The Secret Life of Giant Clams 🔥"

Facts: 1.Size and Longevity: The largest living bivalve, reaching up to 1.4 meters (4.5 feet) and weighing over 200 kg (440 lbs). Lifespan exceeds 100 years. 2.Habitat: Found in Indo-Pacific coral reefs, embedded in sandy substrates or coral rubble. 3.Symbiosis with Zooxanthellae: Host photosynthetic algae in their mantle, providing up to 90% of their nutritional needs via photosynthesis. 4.Filter Feeding: Supplement diet by filtering plankton. 5.Threats: Endangered due to overharvesting (for meat, shells, aquarium trade), habitat destruction, and climate change impacts like ocean warming. 6.Reproductive Strategy: Protandrous hermaphrodites; start as males, later develop female gametes. Broadcast spawners, releasing eggs/sperm into water. 7.Byssal Gland in Juveniles: Young clams use this gland to attach to substrates, but adults become free-living, losing this ability. 8.Ecosystem Engineers: Shells create microhabitats for organisms like crabs, shrimp, and algae, enhancing biodiversity. 9.Pearl Production: Capable of forming large, non-nacreous "calcareous concretions," though rare and less lustrous than oyster pearls. 10.Cultural Significance: Shells used historically as tools, currency, and ceremonial items in Pacific cultures; some myths depict them as guardians. 11.Scientific Climate Proxies: Growth rings in shells studied to reconstruct historical climate data, including sea temperatures and El Niño events. 12.Larval Dispersal: Larvae drift planktonically for weeks, settling via chemical cues; only 1% survive to adulthood. 13.Sand Production: Eroded shells contribute to reef sand, aiding beach formation. 14.Nutrient Cycling: Excretions fertilize surrounding waters, promoting plankton and coral growth. 15.Sensory Structures: Mantle contains iridophores (light-reflecting cells) to optimize algae photosynthesis and possibly deter predators.