This gorgeous and very large clam was photographed while swimming off a beach on Fitzroy Island, Australia. This beautiful island is situated just off the coast of Queensland about a 45 minute boat ride from Cairns. It is surrounded by coral reef that is part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, where you can see many different corals, clams, fish and even turtles. Clams are incredibly fascinating creatures especially in regards to their life cycle and reproductive habits. They are born male and remain so for the first few years of life and produce sperm to reproduce. Once mature they also develop ovaries and produce eggs making them hermaphrodites. To maintain genetic diversity, clams living in the same area will spawn at the same time. Clam spawning, along with many corals takes place when sea temperatures rise and the moon is at the correct phase. Once spawning has begun they simultaneously release reproductive pheromones telling other nearby clams to spawn. First they release sperm which gets moved away by the current (hopefully to meet another clams eggs), and then they release eggs (to hopefully meet another clams sperm). After fertilization takes place the baby clam passes through a mobile larval stage (which sadly many do not survive), before finally settling on a permanent home and growing into the beautiful, colorful clams that we see amongst the corals.
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Laura Lecce's art and photography 
What an amazing image and very interesting post, Laura!
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Thanks Pete, glad you like it. There is something very challenging about underwater photography (and not just holding your breath) that I love, and is much more impressive when I get a good photo out of it.
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You are welcome 🙂 That’s very impressive, Laura. I have never tried it. The closest I have got is taking photos in rock pools, which can be a challenge in itself 🙂
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I agree, rock pools have their own challenges, but so many weird and wonderful creatures can be found there!
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Indeed they can! When I am on the coast I love investigating rock pools and finding new things I have never seen before. I am like a kid again, lol! 🙂
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You and me both!
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Wow…love the photo and I never even heard of these clams. So funny, when I saw that you had a post and the snippet of a photo, I went “oooh!” lol I am always looking forward to your posts! so interesting. 🙂
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Thanks Margaret, you make me laugh, I love that you look forward to my posts!
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hehe….it brightens my day 😀
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