Maldives Marine Life

Marine life of Maldivian waters

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Giant thorny oyster
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Giant thorny oyster

Spondylus varius

Valid name (WoRMS, AphiaID 207853, checked 2026-10-31).

English
Giant thorny oyster
Scientific
Spondylus varius
Dhivehi
No recorded Dhivehi name
Group
Clams and other bivalves
Family
Spondylidae (thorny oysters)
Depth and habitat
Sea floor (benthic)
IUCN status
NE · Not EvaluatedNot Evaluated (NE)

Description

A giant thorny oyster: a large bivalve cemented to the reef, with a thick shell and a wavy edge. Its mantle, seen when the shell gapes, is often bright orange, red or purple, with rows of small eyes. The upper shell is usually overgrown with sponges and algae, so it is easy to miss until it snaps shut.

In the Maldives

Recorded from the Maldives: iNaturalist research-grade observations in the Maldives (n=86, 45 observers).

Sources

Dhivehi name source: No species-level Dhivehi name found in Dhivehi Wikipedia, SeaLifeBase (country: Maldives) or MRS/MMRI invertebrate publications.