Pecten maximus (Linnaeus, 1758)

N. Norway to Canarias, Azores to W. Mediterranean. On sandy bottoms or fine gravels, subtidal to 150-200m deep. As the other members of the genus, maximus sits on its right valve. Original taxon: Ostrea maxima. Above and below: in nets, Pescara, Abruzzo, E. Italy. 80mm.

Synonyms: vulgaris, medius. Rare in central Mediterranean.

Pecten maximus in J. G. Hidalgo: Moluscos marinos de España, Portugal y las Baleares, Madrid 1870, via BHL.

Shells from NE. Atlantic. Beachstormed at extreme low tide, Les Rosaires, Plérin, St-Brieuc area, N. Brittany, NW. France. 44-127mm.

Same spot. Due to commercial scallop-dredging, such large adults are uncommon offshore.

Same spot. Young specimens. 44-55mm.The left valve, strongly concave, flattens with age.

Left valve (cap) of Pecten maximus in Forbes & Hanley: British Mollusca vol. IV, London 1853, via BHL.

Château du Taureau, Carantec, NE. Finistère, NW. Brittany. Original picture provided by P. Corbrion for iNaturalist. – (CC BY-NC) –

Discarded shells of specimens sold for consumption, in the rocks of Pors Even harbour, Ploubazlanec, N. Brittany.

Left valve (cap) of Pecten maximus in L. A. Reeve: Conchologia iconica vol. VIII, London 1855, via BHL.

Pecten maximus in T. Brown: Illustrations of the recent conchology of Great Britain and Ireland, London 1844.

Plage des Rosaires, Plérin, N. Brittany, NW. France.

Other specimens from the same spot.

At extreme low tide, off Binic, west of Plérin. Original picture provided by kristobal22 for gbif.org – (CC BY-NC).

At low tide, Plage du Moulin, Étables-sur-Mer, west of Binic.

Shallow water, Pointe de Garel, Bassin de la Rance, N. Brittany. Original picture provided by P. Corbrion for iNaturalist. – (CC BY-NC-SA) –

At extreme low tide in a Zostera marina field, on the mild slope between La Nellière and La Colombière islets, Pointe du Chevet, Saint-Jacut-de-la-Mer, NE. Brittany.

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