Mollusc · bivalve

Giant vent clam

Calyptogena magnifica

PacificAtlanticIndianSouthernArctic A single ocean

Depth

About 2,000 to 2,600 m, near hydrothermal vents

Size

Up to 26 cm

Diet

Fed by the bacteria in its gills

Zone

The sea floor · 200 – 3,500 m

Key facts

• Its flesh is red because its blood contains hemoglobin, like ours.
• Bacteria live in its gills and make its food from the sulfur of the hot vents.
• It grows about 4 cm a year and may live up to about 25 years.
• “Giant clams” were among the animals discovered in 1977 on the Galápagos Rift.

Verified sources

1. Animal Diversity Web, Calyptogena magnifica
2. NOAA Ocean Explorer, Galápagos Rift 2005

In the game: To observe

In the same zone

Venus’ flower basketEuplectella aspergillum Vent eelpoutThermarces cerberus Eyeless vent shrimpRimicaris exoculata Deep-reef white coralDesmophyllum pertusum (formerly Lophelia pertusa) Azores vent musselBathymodiolus azoricus MonkfishLophius piscatorius