Two more Clam IDs.

[James Yeung]

I have two more pics! The previous owner had them for more than a year 1 1/2 years and the big one got even bigger! The smaller one didn't grow much but appear to be very healthy. :-)

Thanks experts!

James

[James Yeung]

Here's the small one:

[Whisperer]

The first pic is a squamosa and the second one looks like a gold maxima.

[mantisshrimp]

second is a crocea.

[Whisperer]

That was my first thought but the mantle pattern looks more like a gold max pattern than a crocea. You may be right. Uhm, James, can you take pic of the shell of the second clam? Thanks

[hwynboy]

without a better pic I would say Squamosa and Maxima

[Dustin]

Squamosa, crocea.

[James Yeung]

Thanks all!

It looks like the small clam is a crocea.

The shell is covered in algae... It's hard to see, but the shell is identical to the T. Crocea I have.

I want to move this little clam in the middle, but it glued itself to the glass bottom pretty well. I take it the clam likes it there, so I won't disturb it.

Does anyone have any shell pics of a Maxima?

James

[fishforlife]

Here is a shell view of a Maxima

You can see the shape is a bit skewed to one side.

<img src="http://www.golden-ina.com/assets/images/TdMaxima4.jpg">

[manderx]

for me, the key to telling the small one is a crocea is not the shell or the color, but the shape of the mantle. look at a bunch and you'll see what i mean.

[Real Reefs]

I think the second one is a maxima based on the color and shape of the mantle. But a closer pic of the shell will help with confirmation.

[mantisshrimp]

Yeah,I can always tell a clam by the mantle shape.

[Dustin]

What kind of clam is this?

Its a large picture, 220k be patient

http://www.dustindorton.com/clam.jpg

[Real Reefs]

A guess at best would be that they are squamosa's. A picture of the shell as well will provide a lot more information in the determination.

[James Yeung]

Dustin: Nice looking clams.

Newbie question... How do you post an image that shows up automatically (no clicking required?). I can upload my own pictures to my provider.

Thanks,

James

[Dustin]

A picture of the shell (which I dont have) would only make it harder! Those clams are hybrids. Squamosa x Maxima

It can be tricky identifying clams from the mantle or the shell, since they hybridize quite readily.

[NIXONNOXIN]

Dustin's right, clams do hybridize easily. Telling a Crocea from a Maxima via the shell is not a good idea. Look at the hydial sensor arrangements, the eyes - little bumps on the mantle.

James' small clam is a hybrid between a Crocea and Maxima. It exhibit hydial sensors in both a linear line around the periphery (Maxima) AND has them randomly distributed across the mantle (Crocea).