Giant Clam
FREQUENCY: Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1-4
ARMOR CLASS: 10/3 (shell)
MOVE: //1"
HIT DICE: 3
% IN LAIR: 100%
TREASURE TYPE: See below
NO. OF ATTACKS: Nil
DAMAGE/ATTACK: Nil
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Entrapment
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Non-
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: M (6' length)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Attack/Defense Modes:
Nil
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: III / 90 + 3
Giant Carnivorous Clam
FREQUENCY: Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1-4
ARMOR CLASS:10/4 (shell)
MOVE: //1" [10" using bursts]
HIT DICE: 4
% IN LAIR: 50%
TREASURE TYPE: See below
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1 ram
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-10
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Poison cloud, surprise,
continuous damage
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Animal
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: M (6' length)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Attack/Defense Modes:
Nil
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: IV / 175 + 4
Both the giant clam and the giant carnivorous
clam are found in shallow tropical
and semitropical waters, down to a maximum
depth of 200?. Both have numerous
tiny, blue eye spots located near the edges
of the shell. These eye spots can distinguish
between light and shadow, and can
detect movement, but not size. Special
organs near the front of the mantle cavity,
where the soft body of the clam sits, detect
and analyze chemical traces in the
water.
The giant clam is a filtrationist, living
on
minute shrimp and microscopic animals,
and on algae colonies growing inside the
clam?s shell mantle. When threatened or
when something reaches inside the clam?s
shell, the giant clam?s usual defense is
to
close its shell. Due to the animal?s powerpus
ful adductor muscles, which act as a hinge
for the shell, a bend bars/lift gates roll
is
required to force the shell open again.
The giant carnivorous clam has evolved
a slightly higher intelligence than its
sessile
cousin, which it uses to hunt for prey.
Both clams are capable of using their
inhalent and exhalent siphons to move
across the sea bottom; the carnivorous
clam can also, through vigorous clapping
of its shell halves, ?swim? in a jerky
fashion
with its exhalent siphon, providing
lateral adjustment and maneuverability.
The shell thickness of the clam is reduced
to increase buoyancy. The clam?s external
cilia have evolved into a set of 4-10 2'-long
tentacles, used mainly to grasp and move
prey to the clam's stomach. The tentacles
are too weak to do any damage or to grasp
and hold prey with a strength greater
than 6.
The carnivorous clam can, by a sudden
expulsion of water through closing its
shell, jet backwards and ram an opponent
within 5? for 1-10 points of damage. The
clam?s usual method of attack is to shoot
a
mild neurotoxin into the water through
its
exhalent siphon. The toxin disperses in
a
5?-diameter cloud and causes paralysis
for
1-12 rounds to any creature that fails
to
make its saving throw vs. poison. The
paralyzed prey is then grasped by the
clam?s tentacles and either pulled directly
into the clam (for 1 hp/turn digestion
damage thereafter) or cut into smaller
pieces by sawing motions of the clam?s
shell (1-2 hp damage/round).
The inside of both clam shells are lined
with nacre or mother-of-pearl, with a base
value of 50 gp depending on the amount
of mother-of-pearl adventurers can recover.
(DMs should consult the
table on
page 26 of the Dungeon Masters Guide
to
determine the final amount. This amount
should never exceed 500 gp.) There is a
10% chance that a clam has one giant
pearl worth 500-1000 gp, depending upon
its size and quality. The pearl may be
as
large as a fist, but will not be as lustrous
as smaller pearls from pearl oysters.
There is a 5% chance that, scattered about
or buried in the sediment around the
clam, a few coins, accoutrements, or minor
magic items were left behind by an
unfortunate victim who was caught and
drowned.
Both clams are nearly identical in ap
pearance. The upper shell of both clams
is
light brown, while the lower shell is white.
Giant clams of both varieties are found
nestled in the sand or resting on the sedimentary
bottom of oceans. Sometimes, the
giant clam buries itself to provide an
offensive
advantage against prey (surprise
on 1-5).
by Gregg Chamberlain
| Ocean monsters | Monsters | Dragon #116 | Dragon magazine | 1st Edition AD&D |