Palliolum incomparabile (Risso, 1826)
Iceland & Norway to Mediterranean. On sediments, among aalgae or rubble, from sublittoral grounds down to continental shelf and slope. Also byssally attached to hard substrates.
Original taxon: Pecten incomparabilis.
Málaga, Andalucia, S. Spain. 15mm.
Synonym vitreus Risso, which may not be confused with Gmelin’s species. 280-380m deep, on mud and sand, Capraia island, Livorno, Toscana, W taly. 7mm.
« Pecten incomparabilis : Testa rotundata, glabra, nitida, hyalina; valva dextra striolis concentricis divaricantibus sculpta; epidermide glauco-pallida, striis eburneis fulmineis ornata; valva sinistra striolis concentricis divaricantibus sculpta; epidermide glauca, eburneo reticulata. » – A. Risso: Hist. nat. principales productions de l’Europe méridionale… vol. IV, Paris 1826, via BHL. – 67m deep, Bozcaada island, Çanakkale, Marmara province, NW. Turkey. 10mm.
Same spot. 70-85m deep. 5,5-7mm.
Above and below:
shells from 110m deep, Almería, Andalucia. 5,5-7,5mm.
The species is locally common, but often dredged dead, with valves separated. Consequently, complete specimens remain uncommon.
This one is complete.
80m deep, Poetto, Cagliari, S. Sardinia. 5,5mm.
Notice the ctelonium (right) and the sharp microsculpture.
80m deep, on red coral bottom, Lastovo island, Dubrovnik-Neretva Comitat, S. Croatia. 8,4mm. Original pictures provided by R. Stanić (HR) – (CC BY-NC-SA).

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