The Giant Clams: all about these beautiful, unique, and fascinating reef animals

by James W. Fatherree

Overview

This Barnes & Noble print-on-demand book is the author's complete coverage of these remarkable reef-dwelling animals, which has been written and photo-illustrated for anyone interested in them. Inside you'll find information on: the biology of giant clams, the common and uncommon species, the problems they face, how they are aquacultured, and much more. The book also includes over 500 photographs and illustrations.

You can also find James' giant clam photo galleries and videos and more at jameswfatherree.com.

Table of Contents:

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1: Tridacnine Anatomy, Physiology, and Reproduction
Tridacnine Shells
Tridacnine Soft Parts
How Tridacnines Work
Tridacnine Reproduction

Chapter 2: Tridacnine Miscellanea
Ecological Roles
Some Other Symbionts
Mantle Coloration
Dealing with UV
Exposure to Air
Jerking and Squirting
Deformities and Funky Mantles
The Biggest Clams
Tridacnine Pearls
Maximum Lifespans
A Bit More About the ZTS
A Few Close Cousins
Name Changes, Cryptic Species, and Trees
A Variety of Zooxanthellae
Attachments and Self-Righting
Making Burrows
Tridacnine Shells and Humans

Chapter 3: The Common Tridacnine Species
Tridacna crocea
Tridacna maxima
Tridacna noae
Tridacna derasa
Tridacna squamosa
Tridacna gigas
Hippopus hippopus

Chapter 4: The Uncommon Tridacnines and Hybrids
Hippopus porcellanus
Tridacna mbalavuana
Tridacna squamosina
Tridacna elongatissima
Tridacna rosewateri
Hybrid Tridacnines

Chapter 5: Tridacnine Troubles
Bleaching
Bacterial Infections
Protozoans and Pinched Mantle
Deteriorating Ligaments
Boring Sponges and Algae
Overgrowing Algae and Corals
Bad Worms
Predatory and Parasitic Snails
Other Predatory Animals
Humans

Chapter 6: Tridacnine Aquaculture
Broodstock and Spawning
Gamete Collection
Fertilization
Larval Rearing
Grow-Out
On From There

References and Image Credits

Index

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780978619497
Publisher:	Liquid Medium Publications
Publication date:	09/02/2023
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.88(d)

About the Author

James has been an aquarium hobbyist since childhood and has been keeping marine aquariums for over thirty years. He's also an avid scuba diver, and has spent many days on reefs from Australia to the Florida Keys. Many years ago, he managed a large retail aquarium store, owned and operated an aquarium design, installation, and maintenance business, and spent a summer working as a diver/collector for an aquarium livestock wholesaler, too.

James has also published nearly 500 articles with photographs in various aquarium and dive magazines in the U.S. and Europe, and has written and illustrated a half-dozen books on the topics of reef organisms and marine aquariums. He's given over 50 presentations at conferences and aquarium society meetings in North America and Europe, as well.

Aside from his lifelong aquatic interests and experiences, James served as an Army paratrooper, earned degrees in Geology from Mississippi State University and the University of South Florida, with a specialization in invertebrate paleontology, and has traveled around the world. He also taught English in southern Japan for two years and is currently a Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences in Tampa, Florida.