CIBED - - Small Giant Clam

Tridacna maxima Small Giant Clam Pa‘ua ^RR

f.TRIDACNIDAE Giant Clams

Tridacna maxima Small Giant Clam Pa‘ua ^RR

f.TRIDACNIDAE Giant Clams

Cook Islands Status Summary

Show Notes

Intl. NamesSmall Giant Clam ^EN , Maxima Clam ^EN Burrowing Giant Clam ^EN Elongate Giant Clam ^EN Rugose Giant Clam ^EN

Local NamesPa‘ua^RR Pā‘ua^MG,MT,AK Paua^AT Pā‘uā^MK Pāsua^TNs,TNw Pāyua^PK,NS

Pacific NamesNo Content

Sci. NamesTridacna maxima (accepted name) , Tridacna (Chametrachea) maxima

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. PresenceRR⁺MG^PAT^PMK^PMT^PAK⁺PL⁺⁺⁺MN⁺⁺⁺⁺TK⁺⁺

Nth. PresenceTN?MH⁺⁺⁺RK?PK⁺⁺NS?SW?

VouchersMG²⁰⁰⁰ AT²⁰⁰⁰ MK²⁰⁰¹ AK²⁰⁰⁰ PK²⁰⁰⁴ CIS¹⁹⁷⁵

Local OriginNative; Resident

Global RangeNative: e.Africa - Pitcairns; n. to s.Japan; s. to New Caledonia;

HabitatAquatic; Marine; Nearshore

ThreatenedGlobally endangered; moderately; REDLIST

InvasivenessNo Content

BiosecurityNo Content

Medical StatusMedicine

Harmful StatusNo Content

UsesFlesh food (commonly)

IdentificationLarge, rugged shell, to 25cmL (max.35cm). VALVES similar, inflated, oval; joint (=umbones) at anterior 30%; ventral opening (=byssal orifice) large, with 4-9 small, non-interlocking ridges; surface with 6-7 wide, convex radial-ridges with erect, low,more... concentric scales (=scutes). Inhalant siphon with fringing tentacles. COLOUR external greyish white; interior glossy white. EXPOSED MANTLE variable, brightly coloured. POSITION partially buried into corals.

Similar SpeciesFluted Giant-clam (Tridacna squamosa) has radial ridges withmore... erect, high, blade-like scales (vs. erect, low, concentric scales); joint is near centre (vs. anterior 30%).

Interest NoteNo Content

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Vernacular Names

English and International Names

Small Giant Clam ^EN [iNat] Maxima Clam^EN Burrowing Giant Clam^EN Elongate Giant Clam^EN Rugose Giant Clam^EN

Pacific Names

No Pacific Names

Local Names

Pa‘ua^RR Pā‘ua^MG,MT,AK Paua^AT Pā‘uā^MK Pāsua^TNs,TNw Pāyua^PK,NS

National Name: Pa‘ua ^RR

Notes: Pa‘ua / Pahua is the traditional name for the giant clam and commonly harvested species is {Tridacna maxima}. The uncommon Fluted Giant-Clam is sometimes distinguished by a species-specific name.

Island	Status	Main name
National name	RR	Pa‘ua
Rarotonga	+	Pa‘ua
Mangaia	P	Pā‘ua
Ātiu	P	Paua
Ma‘uke	P	Pā‘uā
Miti‘āro	P	Pā‘ua
Aitutaki	+	Pā‘ua
Palmerston	+++	?P,?N
Tongareva-write		Pāsua
Tongareva-speak		Pāsua
Manihiki	+++	?P,?N
Rakahanga		?P,?N
Pukapuka	++	Pāyua
Nassau		Pāyua

Scientific Names and Taxonomy

National Distribution & Vouchers

National Presence:

Present

Oceanic

islands: [ , {label: 'Rarotonga', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 404.5, left: 210.5, labelLeft: 222, labelTop: 404} , {label: 'Mangaia', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 427.5, left: 261.5, labelLeft: 274, labelTop: 426} , {label: 'Ātiu', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 372.5, left: 261.5, labelLeft: 244, labelTop: 382} , {label: 'Ma‘uke', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 374.5, left: 282.5, labelLeft: 284, labelTop: 385} , {label: 'Miti‘āro', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 358.5, left: 274.5, labelLeft: 283, labelTop: 351} , {label: 'Aitutaki', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 334.5, left: 210.5, labelLeft: 209, labelTop: 321} , {label: 'Palmerston', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 309.5, left: 112.5, labelLeft: 124, labelTop: 309} , {label: 'Manuae', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 346.5, left: 234.5, labelLeft: 244, labelTop: 338} , {label: 'Takūtea', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 362.5, left: 254.5, labelLeft: 211, labelTop: 363} , {label: 'Tongareva', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 32.5, left: 260.5, labelLeft: 205, labelTop: 31} , {label: 'Manihiki', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 80.5, left: 175.5, labelLeft: 187, labelTop: 80} , {label: 'Rakahanga', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 63.5, left: 173.5, labelLeft: 186, labelTop: 63} , {label: 'Pukapuka', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 88.5, left: 33.5, labelLeft: 45, labelTop: 88} , {label: 'Nassau', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 108.5, left: 46.5, labelLeft: 59, labelTop: 108} , {label: 'Suwarrow', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 162.5, left: 115.5, labelLeft: 127, labelTop: 162} ] , legend: [{label: 'Not Assessed', top: 235, stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#ffffff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: ''}, {label: 'Present', top: 250, stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: ''}, {label: '? Present', top: 265, stroke: '#006600', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GWR', tris: '#ACACAC', trif: '#ffffff'}, {label: 'Absent', top: 280, stroke: '#C00000', fill: '#CC0000', symbol: 'RR', tris: '', trif: ''}, {label: '? Absent', top: 295, stroke: '#C00000', fill: '#CC0000', symbol: 'RWR', tris: '#c0c0c0', trif: '#ffffff'}, {label: 'Intercepted', top: 312, stroke: '#990000', fill: '#CC0000', symbol: 'RDR', tris: '#000000', trif: '#000000'}, {label: 'Extirpated/Extinct', top: 331, stroke: '#006600', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'RGR', tris: '#660000', trif: '#CC0000'} ]

Island	Status
Rarotonga	+
Mangaia	Present
Ātiu	Present
Ma‘uke	Present
Miti‘āro	Present
Aitutaki	+
Palmerston	+++
Manuae	++++
Takūtea	++
Tongareva
Manihiki	+++
Rakahanga
Pukapuka	++
Nassau
Suwarrow

Note: S.Group - common; N.Group - common

Vouchers for:
Tridacna maxima

Cook Islands _____ 1975 1cs specimen specimen, Morgan Collection (Cook Islands Library and Museum) 795-797.

Southern

Northern

Oceanic

Rarotonga

Mangaia _____ 2000 1cs specimen specimen, College, 9/2000, ID G.McCormack.

Ātiu _____ 2000 2fs fieldspecimen fieldspecimen, College collection, 10/2000, ID G.McCormack.

Ma‘uke _____ 2001 2fs fieldspecimen fieldspecimen, College collection, 3/2001, ID G.McCormack.

Miti‘āro

Aitutaki _____ 2000 2fs fieldspecimen fieldspecimen, NBSAP School, 12/2000, ID G.McCormack.

Palmerston

Manuae

Takūtea

Tongareva

Manihiki

Rakahanga

Pukapuka _____ 2004 2fs fieldspecimen fieldspecimen, 2/2004, G.McCormack with ID as Tridacna maxima.

Nassau

Suwarrow

Identification

Local Origin and Global Range

Habitat

Threatened

no data available

Invasive/Pest Status

no data available

Biosecurity

Medicinal

Species Uses

References

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
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Cook Islands Status Summary

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Vernacular Names

English and International Names

Pacific Names

Scientific Names and Taxonomy

Accepted Name

Synonyms

National Distribution & Vouchers

Vouchers for:
Tridacna maxima

Identification

Local Origin and Global Range

Habitat

Threatened

Invasive/Pest Status

Biosecurity

Medicinal

Species Uses

References

Citation Information

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Cook Islands Status Summary

Multimedia & Other Resources

Vernacular Names

Accepted Name

Synonyms

Vouchers for: Tridacna maxima

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Vouchers for:
Tridacna maxima