Hippopus
genus of bivalvian molluscs
Hippopus is a genus of large tropical saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs in the subfamily Tridacninae, the giant clam subfamily, of the family Cardiidae.
Species
Hippopus hippopus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Bear paw clam)
Hippopus porcellanus Rosewater, 1982 (China clam)
Species brought into synonymy
Hippopus brassica Bosc, 1801 accepted as Hippopus hippopus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Hippopus equinus Mörch, 1853 accepted as Hippopus hippopus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Hippopus maculatus Lamarck, 1801 accepted as Hippopus hippopus (Linnaeus, 1758)
References
Neo M.L., Wabnitz C.C.C., Braley R.D., Heslinga G.A., Fauvelot C., Van Wynsberge S., Andrefouet S., Waters C., Shau-Hwai Tan A., Gomez E.D., Costello M.J. & Todd P.A. (2017). Giant Clams (Bivalvia: Cardiidae: Tridacninae): A comprehensive update of species and their distribution, current threats and conservation status. Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review. 55: 87-388
External links
Lamarck, J.B.M. (1799). Prodrome d'une nouvelle classification des coquilles, comprenant une rédaction appropriée des caractères géneriques, et l'établissement d'un grand nombre de genres nouveaux. Mémoires de la Société d'Histoire Naturelle de Paris. 1: 63-91
Gistel, Johannes [Nepomuk Franz Xaver]. (1848). Naturgeschichte des Tierreichs: für höhere Schulen.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Hippopus” is genus of bivalvian molluscs. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Hippopus, genus and bivalvian, not as a finished interpretation.
Why this record matters
The phrase “genus of bivalvian molluscs” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.
The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jul 8, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q4353868. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1758, 1982, 1801 and 1853.
Scientific names, classifications and consensus can change while older terminology persists in catalogues and historical literature. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Hippopus”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Hippopus primary sources, Hippopus archive and Hippopus research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Hippopus”?
- Which observation, specimen, dataset or publication supports the account?
- Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Hippopus” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.