Solid shell up to 9cm in length. The colour is very variable and includes white, red, pink, brown, orange, yellow and purple and shades between these. In addition, the valves are often patterned with various combination of these. The surface of the shell is sculptured with rounded ribs which are corregated.
- About 19 to 22 broad radiating ribs
- The ears of the valves are nearly equal in size
Early in life it lives attached by byssus threads becoming becoming free living. Lives on sand or gravel where it feeds by filtering phytoplankton. It is capable of swimming for considerable distances in both directions by flapping its valves.
Common. Distributed from northern Norway to the Iberian Peninsula and into the Mediterranean.
Aequipecten opercularis
The map provided here shows the distribution of the species based on Conchological Society data held by the National Biodiversity Network (NBN). See terms and conditions.
The following datasets are included:
- Conchological Society of Great Britain & Ireland: marine mollusc records
Open an NBN Atlas interactive map of this data in a new window.
Taxon details available from MolluscaBase (AphiaID 140687):
Aequipecten opercularis (Linnaeus, 1758)
For the species account provided by Marine Bivalves of the British Isles click here.
The UK NBN Atlas entry for the species can be accessed via this link.