How can you tell between crocea and maxima?

[drewsterr]

Hi,
I have problems indentifying crocea and maxima alot of times, how can i exactly tell if its a maxima or crocea ? Thanks

 

[SeanT]

Here are some good articles.
Maxima.
Crocea.

Hope this helps.

 

[Potsy]

Croceas generally have smooth shells (they're worn down while burrowing into coral heads or rock) while maximas possess a repeating pattern of ridges along the sides of the shell. Croceas also have very large byssal openings underneath their shell.

 

[firechild]

A crocea will only have a smooth shell if it has been cut out of a rock. If it is farm raised or has been collected small enough that it hasn't had a chance to burrow yet. The only clam that has a naturally smooth shell is T. derasa and croceas have similar small scutes to maximas.

 

[CLAMps]

shape

shape

u can always tell by the cemitry of the shell if its elonggated its a maxima if its more cimetrical (round) its a crocea u can also tell by the bysial opening(spell) underneath crocea hava a large 1 while max have smaller