Clam ID

[i cant think]

I got this clam today however, it was sold as a Maxima. Me and the sellers have a doubt that it is a full maxima and instead maybe a Squamosa x Maxima hybrid. Is there any key traits of the “Mimosa” hybrid that differentiates these from the pure bred parents? Photo of said clam is below for any pros to ID.

This is a second thread for it but I wanted to try get more opinions on this clam.

Also, I’m curious if this clam prefers being on the rocks so it can bore into it or if it doesn’t mind being on the sand (My tank is shallow with a light that is stronger than this tank needs).

 

[vetteguy53081]

I got this clam today however, it was sold as a Maxima. Me and the sellers have a doubt that it is a full maxima and instead maybe a Squamosa x Maxima hybrid. Is there any key traits of the “Mimosa” hybrid that differentiates these from the pure bred parents? Photo of said clam is below for any pros to ID.

This is a second thread for it but I wanted to try get more opinions on this clam.

Also, I’m curious if this clam prefers being on the rocks so it can bore into it or if it doesn’t mind being on the sand (My tank is shallow with a light that is stronger than this tank needs).

Pic a little dark but appears to be a maxima

 

[i cant think]

Pic a little dark but appears to be a maxima

I’ll try get some better photos as he opens up, it’s weird because the pattern looks wrong for a maxima
Hopefully this is a better photo of it.

 

[hebdizzle]

Following

 

[kevgib67]

I can’t help but I want to know! Following.

 

[Tcook]

Pics of the shell can help. Squamosa symmetrical with large scutes, maxima asymmetrical with fine scutes. Mantel looks maxima to me. See below link.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-07/jf/feature/index.php

 

[i cant think]

This is a bad photo however, the thing I find confusing is the growth form on this clam. The newly formed scutes (?) look large for a clam of this size (2-2.5” in length).

 

[Reefing102]

I’ll tag @PacificEastAquaculture
Dr. Mac posted something (I think recently) about how clams have different patterns depending where they are collected

 

[Tcook]

This is a bad photo however, the thing I find confusing is the growth form on this clam. The newly formed scutes (?) look large for a clam of this size (2-2.5” in length).

I can't help with blended clams. The baby maximas I have had the scutes were more flared out and tended to flatten out as the shell grew. I think the baby maxima I have on hold at the lfs had flared scutes.

 

[Tcook]

I love the deep blue rim with black dots on yours. This will look great next to the teal colored maxima or squami that you will buy next.

 

[JoJosReef]

JUST finished reading this section from Fatheree's book.

Maxima vs. Squamosa: maxima scutes typically much closer together and not as big; Squamosa lack tight row of eyes along edge of mantle; Squamosa tend to have large, branching siphonal tentacles while maxima do not.

Re: hybrids;
Mimosas have not been confirmed by genetic testing (as of time of publication). Only Maxima/Noae have, but mimosas likely can be hybrids.

Other notable issues with identifying hybrids: there can be considerable variation and overlap in the look of mantles in each of these species. Some example photos of squamosa have the "typical" maxima colors.

Look for prominent ribs and folds in Squamosa, and can have largish eyes near edge of mantle, smaller byssal opening. Maxima moderate to large byssal opening, numerous small tentacles in inhalent siphone. Similar shell color between the two.

Helpful? Eh..

 

[Tcook]

Helpful? Eh

Yes lol. And where do you draw the line? Just enjoy the clam!

 

[JoJosReef]

Yes lol. And where do you draw the line? Just enjoy the clam!

Agreed, but part of the enjoyment of these critters can be wondering more about them. My bet is on a particularly good coloration of squamosa--Fatheree's page on Squamosa says most are brown but can have a broad range of coloration with black/blue being highly valued. If so, @i cant think nabbed a good one! If not, @i cant think nabbed a good one!

 

[OrionN]

That is a T. maxima. Very classic Maxima. There is no hint of Squamosa in that clam at all.

 

[JoJosReef]

That is a T. maxima. Very classic Maxima. There is no hint of Squamosa in that clam at all.

Its time to play a game! Put your iPhones down for "Which one is the Maxima?"! Answers at the bottom.



And the first round... For 100 clams*, which one is the Maxima?

Round 2.. , For 1,000 clams*, which one is the Maxima?

And the final round... For all of the clams*, which one is the Maxima?

* "clams" while colloqually representing money, or in this forum saltwater aquarium invertibrates, represents in this context a token of exactly zero redeemable value in any currency, material or livestock of any kind. Enjoy your "clams"!






Answers according to respective vendors/websites and assuming no mistakes were made:
1. D is the Maxima! The others are Squamosas!
2. Trick question! A, B and D are all Maximas! C is a Squamosa!
3. Haha, tricked you again! All of the clams are Squamosas!


I guess the point, if there is one, is that for many of us, telling the difference between clams is not easy. @OrionN (thank you for your articles and posts which I've found super helpful), you have a trained eye and decades of experience, but I would still argue that the third photo posted by @i cant think does indeed strongly hint toward Squamosa and could lead some of us to doubt--those scutes are quite pronounced.


Was that a waste of time? Perhaps. Did it waste my time? Definitely! Still, I liked looking at all the clams :~)

 

[J1a]

I got this clam today however, it was sold as a Maxima. Me and the sellers have a doubt that it is a full maxima and instead maybe a Squamosa x Maxima hybrid. Is there any key traits of the “Mimosa” hybrid that differentiates these from the pure bred parents? Photo of said clam is below for any pros to ID.

This is a second thread for it but I wanted to try get more opinions on this clam.

Also, I’m curious if this clam prefers being on the rocks so it can bore into it or if it doesn’t mind being on the sand (My tank is shallow with a light that is stronger than this tank needs).

I would say this is a non hybrid maxima. Maxima clams can have bigger scutes, but they are (and this is) no where near the large scutes of the squamosa clams.

Perhaps on a smaller clam, it may seems that the scutes are proportionally far apart. However if you were to consider such scute distance on a larger clam, it will seem much closer together. In any case, it's a lovely clam.

@JoJosReef , I won't be surprised if some vendor/websites regularly make mistakes about clam ID.

 

[OrionN]

looking at the clam in person, and able to look at the shells, include the size of the opening really help correctly ID a clam in many case where there is uncertain, and unusual clams. However, many of the clams can easily ID by looking at the picture.
Only from pictures I can ID these clams as:

A&D are Maxima (100% sure)
B&C are Squamosa (100% sure)

A,B&D are Maxima (100% sure)
C is a Crocea (100%) sure

A&B unsure
C Maxima (100% sure)
D Squamosa (100% sure)

 

[OrionN]

double post

 

[JoJosReef]

looking at the clam in person, and able to look at the shells, include the size of the opening really help correctly ID a clam in many case where there is uncertain, and unusual clams. However, many of the clams can easily ID by looking at the picture.
Only from pictures I can ID these clams as:

A&D are Maxima (100% sure)
B&C are Squamosa (100% sure)

A,B&D are Maxima (100% sure)
C is a Crocea (100%) sure

A&B unsure
C Maxima (100% sure)
D Squamosa (100% sure)

This was a fun exercise. Interesting that some vendors misidentify their clams as well @J1a . Quick question, since I've been reading Fatherree and looking at more examples:

Round 1, A vs. B: We can see the scutes pretty well on both of these pictures. Would you say that Squamosa scutes (B) "jut out" more than Maxima, i.e., narrower but larger, coming out of the ends of the ribs, while Maxima (A, identified by you) may be large but wider, i.e., stretch around the ribs a bit more?

Thanks!

 

[i cant think]

This is when I wish I could see the bysall opening but it’s byall threads are very well attached onto the slab of slate.