| Family: |
Pinnidae (pen shells) |
| Max. size: |
39 cm SHH (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
benthic; marine; depth range 0 - 200 m |
| Distribution: |
Mediterranean and Indo-West Pacific: from southeast Africa to Melanesia and New Zealand; north to Japan and south to New South Wales. Tropical to subtropical. |
| Diagnosis: |
Shell reaching a large size, usually rather thin, fragile, moderately inflated and triangularly wedge-shaped in outline, with a highly variable sculpture. Dorsal margin nearly straight or slightly concave, posterior margin generally truncate. Ventral margin widely convex posteriorly, straightish to shallowly depressed anteriorly. Outer surface of valves with 15 to 30 radial ribs which may be smooth to densely set with short, open spines. Dorsal most radial rib frequently with a series of short and sharp spines protruding along the dorsal margin of shell. Inner surface of shell with shallow grooves corresponding to the external radial ribs. Internal nacreous layer rather thin, undivided, occupying the anterior 2/3 to 3/4 of valves. Posterior adductor scar completely enclosed within the nacreous area. Colour: outside of shell slightly shiny, translucent olivaceous tan, often tinged with darker purplish brown or grey toward the umbones. Interior similarly coloured, iridescent on nacreous area. |
| Biology: |
New Zealand populations are generally considered a distinct subspecies under the name Atrina pectinata zelandica (Gray, 1835). It is collected in many areas for food and fertilizer (Ref. 348). Minimum depth from Ref. 348. From low intertidal areas to depths of about 20 m (Ref. 348). From tidal flats to shallow subtidal environments (Ref. 106801). In sand or muddy sand with shells, with the ventral (open) portion of the shell facing towards the current (Ref. 348). Infaunal (Ref. 106801). Occurs in 15 to approximately 50 cm deep silts (Ref .106800). Tolerant to wide ranges of temperature and to low-salinity water (Ref. 348). In general, suspension feeding bivalves mainly depend on phytoplankton and detritus material for nutrition (Ref. 107088). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. 123251)
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| Threat to humans: |
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| Country info: |
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Source and more info: www.sealifebase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
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