In the most recent issue of MALACOLOGICAL EXPOSITOR,  the renowned
malacologist, Tom Foolery has published the description of an astonishing new
species which has been recovered from the DeSoto Canyon in the northern Gulf
of Mexico off Pensacola, Florida.  Its discovery was a fluke as it was caught
in the trawl of Dr. Foolery's research vessel and the captain and crew
thought the net had been snagged on a huge rock.  When the crew could not
free the trawl it was winched by hand to the surface (a task which took more
than 24 hours).  To their surprise and the delight of Dr. Foolery, the rock
turned out to be a new species of Tridacna; the only species of the genus to
be found in the Atlantic.  This new species measured 14 feet in length and
weighed in at one ton; making the largest living mollusk in the world.  This
Megaclam as it has been termed was taken from a depth of 401 fathoms.  Dr.
Foolery has named this megaclam TRIDACNA APRILIAUNO.   The holotype and only
known specimen has been deposited in the Florida Museum of Natural History.
According to museum personnel it has been given the accession number 04011999.
 
 
Doug Shelton
Alabama Malacological Research Center
2370-G Hillcrest Road #236
Mobile, AL 36695 USA