Canestrello scallop
NameCanestrello scallop
Scientific NameMimachlamys varia
Common NameCanestrello scallop, Variegated scallop
FamilyPectinidae
GenusMimachlamys
Speciesvaria
Geographic DistributionNortheast Atlantic Ocean, including the British Isles, France, Spain, Portugal, and extending into the Mediterranean Sea.
Habitatintertidal
Average Size (mm)40-60
Identifying FeaturesStrong, rounded radial ribs (25-35), often with finer interstitial ribs. Unequal auricles, with a larger anterior auricle featuring a byssal notch. The highly variable and often mottled or spotted color patterns are also a key identifying feature.
Dietfilter-feeder
Raritycommon
Author Citation(Linnaeus, 1758)
Description
The Canestrello scallop, also known as the Variegated scallop, is a small to medium-sized bivalve mollusc characterized by its distinctive fan-shaped shell. The shell is equivalve, meaning both valves are similar in size and shape, and features numerous prominent radial ribs. Its coloration is highly variable, often displaying a beautiful array of patterns and hues, making it a popular subject for shell collectors. These scallops are typically found attached to hard substrates in coastal waters.
