Hi Paul, and Everybody,
 
When I brought the thing home, I called it squamosa, because
it had flutes and was more elongated than most of the photos
I had seen of gigas.  As re-browse my books, it looks like
you may be right.  I see one photo that is supposed to be
gigas that is pretty close.  I picked the thing up right outside
the Paradise Hotel in Vava'u, Tonga.  The reason I said
"smallish" is that there were some larger ones that weren't
as clean lying in the mud around this one.  I never see gigas
in Samoa, but most, or all of the other species are here.  I
guess its possible that gigas ranges into Tonga, though.
 
Cheers,
 
 
 
Don
 
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> From: Paul R. Monfils <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Thick shells
> Date: Tuesday, December 01, 1998 12:58 PM
>
> ?? a "smallish" Tridacna squamosa, 2 inches thick and 450 mm in length ??
> That size would be very large for Tridacna squamosa.  Are you sure you
don't
> have a smallish T. gigas there?