Tridacna noae
Noah's Giant Clam
No Local Name
f.TRIDACNIDAE
Giant Clams
Tridacna noae
Noah's Giant Clam
No Local Name
f.TRIDACNIDAE
Giant Clams
Cook Islands Status Summary
Show Notes
Intl. NamesNoah's Giant Clam EN
Local NamesPa‘uaRR
Pacific NamesNo Content
Sci. NamesTridacna noae (accepted name)
, Tridachnes noae, Tridacna ningaloo, newFix2024-06Kirby
High Tax. Eng.k.Animals, p.Molluscs, f.Giant Clams - Bivalve
High Tax. Latink.ANIMALIA, p.MOLLUSCA, c.BIVALVIA, sc.LAMELLIBRANCHIA, o.Heterodonta, f.TRIDACNIDAE
Natl. PresencePresent
Sth. PresenceRRPMGPAT?MK?MT?AK?PL?MN?TK?
Nth. PresenceTN?MH?RK?PK?NS?SW?
VouchersRR2005
MG2022
Local OriginNative; Resident; Breeding locally
Global RangeNative: Indonesia - Taiwan - Australia - Micronesia - N.Cal. - Cooks / Line Is. (not PF or Hawai‘i);
HabitatAquatic - Marine - Near-shore - Reef-flat, Shallow slope
ThreatenedNo Content
InvasivenessNo Content
BiosecurityNo Content
Medical StatusNo Content
Harmful StatusNo Content
UsesNo Content
IdentificationSmall giant clam to 29cm long, with 6 main ribs of scales/flutes. The mantle is distinctive with scattered blotches with a broad white margins.
Similar SpeciesTridacna maxima is similar in size but has 4-5 ribs (vs 6) and mantle blotches lack broad white margins (vs wide white margins).
Interest NoteModern recognition of T. noae as distinct at Research Grade more...on iNaturalist was slow. 2000 1xPNG, 2003 1xAU, 2005 1xJapan, 2005 2xIndonesia, 2008 1xFiji 1xN.Cal., 2009 many in AU, 2011 1xCooks.
Show All Notes
Multimedia & Other Resources
Click on a thumbnail to see the full image and image details.
Vernacular Names
Citation Information
McCormack, Gerald (2026) Cook Islands Biodiversity & Ethnobiology Database, Version 2026.04.21 - Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga. Online at https://naturalheritage.gov.ck/cibed
Please refer to our use policy.
Saved Species
X of 20
- Save Species