Tridacna noae
Teardrop clam
![Tridacna sp. [cf noae]](https://images.reeflifesurvey.com/1/species_9e_6695d1ce1e07f.w400.h266.jpg)
Distribution
Description
Burrowing clam species with an asymmetrical, partially embedded shell featuring 5-7 primary radial folds, pointed processes on the upper shell margin, and raised ridges with prominent scales. Shell indistinguishable from T. maxima. Differs from T. crocea which has rounded processes on upper margin, is smaller, and embeds fully in reef substrate. T. squamosa shares a similar range and habitat but does not embed in the substrate and has a symmetrical shell with rounded processes on the upper margin.
T. noae in the Ningaloo region of Western Australia are recorded separately as Tridacna sp.[cf noae] due to frequent absence of white-bordered spots on the mantle which distinguish this species from T. maxima in other regions.
Information
Max Size: N/A cm
Sea Temperature Range: N/A
Depth: N/A
Habitat Generalization Index: N/A
Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.
Conservation and Rarity
IUCN Status: Not Evaluated
Occurrence: Infrequent (3.2% of sites)
Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed
Abundance: Few (3 per transect)
Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
Edit by: Kevin Smith