Taklobo, world’s largest clam, hatches over 9 million eggs in Palawan

Under the “String-of-Pearls Project”, the Malampaya Foundation, Inc. (MFI) was able to produce more than 9 million eggs of the world’s largest clam in the West Philippine University (WPU) Hatchery in Puerto Princesa City Saturday.

Tridacna gigas, more commonly known in the Philippines as Taklobo, is the largest living immobile bivalve mollusk in the world and also one of the most endangered species with a survival rate of .01 percent.

A Philippine-native species was found in Dos Palmas, Palawan. This type may be bigger compared to others from Pacific Islands, though molecular study is still needed to confirm it.

Giant clams are important because they are food for some marine animals and they increase fish density, Sherry Lyn Sayco, a researcher from the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UPMSI), said.

According to the WPU, this particular type of clam was difficult to propagate because there are only a few of the species left.

Read entire article here: https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/06/29/taklobo-worlds-largest-clam-hatches-over-9-million-eggs-in-palawan/