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Alot of ppl have trouble identifying each type of clams so the information below will help you in IDing the clams better.
Crocea- smallest clam species which do not have huge stair case like structure(think they are call scute) on their shell. They are very colourful and their stretch their mantle out very wide and one of the biggest in the clam family) thus making them prone to predation such as fishes... Being very colourful, they therefore needs very very strong lighting(>250watts) The shell base is also very wide so its very good hide out for clam pest such as pyramid snails. That also makes it different from its cousin(maxima) as these 2 species are easily mistaken as each other. Usually lfs owner will try to say that their croceas are maxima because maxima does alot cost more.
Crocea
Maxima-Most of them have staircase like structure on their shell, call scutes, Although specimen from certain area may have very little to no scutes. Scutes of maxima are more compact and that sets them different from sqauamosa. Since the scutes of maxima are rather pack together, they are perfect hidding ground for pyramid snails so care must be taken when choosing any maxima. They are very colourful and therefore alot of lights are needed(some colourful one may need 400watts of light). Also the shell base where the byssal is is not as wide as croceas.
Maxima
Derasa- This guys have very small and thin base and when fully close, this clam look like pancake. When they open, the shell can open to almost 180 degree...... Their colour are not as colourful as maxima or corceas and usually they come in brown, gold or green(some are blue but those are very rare cases). They also have scutes on their shell but the scutes pattern are more unique becos they continue from one end of the shell to the other end.
Derasa in the centre, the one that do not have curve in mantle
Squamosa- This clam have shell pattern that resemble maxima, however the spacing of the scutes in a squamosa is alot bigger than maxima. Another thing to differentiate maxima from squamosa, is from the mantle pattern, squamosa mantle tend to be more dull and usually in gold or brown while maximas mantle can be of almost and colour. Squamosas are very hardy clam and should be recommended for beginners. They need very little light too(least is many t5s).
Squamosa
As for gigas and hippophus, i would not talk much abt them as they are seldom see in lfs trade and not popular among reefers[b]
