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futurity_sci_tech 00779.txt

#New giant clam species hid in plain sight One type of giant clam turns out to be two separate species report researchers who discovered the new species on reefs in the Solomon islands and at Ningaloo in Western australia. Jude Keyse a postgraduate student at the University of Queensland School of Biological sciences says the find was surprising. NA sequences strongly suggest that a distinct and unnamed species of giant clam has been hiding literally in plain sight looking almost the same as the relatively common Tridacna maximasays Keyse. iant clams can grow up to 230 kilograms (507 pounds) and are some of the most recognizable animals on coral reefs coming in a spectrum of vibrant colors including blues greens browns and yellow hues. o-author Shane Penny a postgraduate student at Charles darwin University says o correctly describe the new species now becomes critical as the effects of getting it wrong can be profound for fisheries ecology and conservation. ivers and snorkelers prize the giant clams which are also a source of meat and shells. Overconsumption by humans has depleted giant clams populations in many areas and most giant clam species are on the International union for conservation of nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Keyse says the discovery of a new species had implications for management of giant clams. hat we thought was one breeding group has turned out to be two making each species even less abundant than previously thoughtshe says. The findings appear in PLOS ONE p

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