Similipecten similis (Laskey, 1811)
Iceland & Norway to Cabo Verde, Madeira to Mediterranean. « Appears to be absent from the southern North Sea» (MBSBI) and the eastern English Channel. On muddy bottoms across the shelf and upper slope. Original taxon: Pecten similis.
Synonyms: commutabilis, pullus, tumida
Single valves, often chipped, can be very common. 110m deep, off Motril, Granada, Andalucia, S. Spain. 4-6mm.
« At first I had doubts respecting this being the Pecten laevis of Montagu ; but having since received a specimen from Mr.  Montagu of the true Pecten laevis, I find it to be distinct. I have therefore for the present named it similis. It is a thin semi-transparent shell, with unequal ears, of a compressed globose form, perfectly smooth, and beautifully clouded with brown. » – J. Laskey: “Account of North British Testacea” Memoirs of the Wernerian Natural History Society vol. I, Edinburgh 1811, via Google Books.

Trawled at 70-80m deep, off Málaga, Andalucia. 4,5mm.
The right valve is always smaller than the left one. 180m deep, Capraia Isola, Arcipelago Toscano, W. Italy. 6,7mm. Original pictures provided by A. Nappo (IT) – (CC BY-NC-SA).
Source: gruppomalacologicoscalaria.org.

— back to Propeamussidae —