Leicester Leicestershire East Midlands 9th July 2021

We lived in Indonesia 40 years ago (can it really be that long??) where this giant clam shell was acquired. It came from the southwest ocean side of the island via a donation to a local charity. The other half is off shot to the right but they were connected when we bought it.

In all the underwater adventure stories the scuba diver always gets his foot caught in one of these as the shells slam closed. In real life this wouldn't happen of course. It doesn't happen in my garden either...

They are considered a delicacy in Japan & the numbers in the wild have been greatly reduced by extensive harvesting for food and the aquarium trade. Consequently these huge bivalves are an endangered species today.