Illustration of Tridacna gigas (Giant Clam), which is classified Vulnerable by the IUCN due to overharvesting
Illustration of Mercenaria mercenaria (Hard Clam)
The Atlantic Rangia or wedge clam Rangia cuneata originates from the Gulf of Mexico. From there this bivalve colonized the Atlantic coast of North-America and Europe. The species mainly live in estuaries, brackish and freshwater. In ports, the Atlantic Rangia can become a pest as it establishes itself in industrial cooling pipes where it can obstruct optimal water flow