Description: A small scallop, reaching up to 9 mm with thin, unequal valves. The right valve is smaller and slightly more convex than the left. There is a deep byssal notch in the anterior ear of the right valve. It is a semitransparent off-white, cream, brown or yellow in colour and often has irregular patterning in the form of blotches, zigzags and lines. These are more common on the left valve than the right but may be found on both. There are fine concentric lines and radiating ridges on the outside of both valves,

Habitat: Muddy or shelly sand, fine shell or muddy gravel down to around 60 m.

Distribution: Recorded from most coasts of Britain and Ireland, but most records are concentrated in SW and NW Britain and NE Ireland.

Similar Species: Could potentially be confused with juveniles of some of the other scallop species found here.

Key Identification Features:

• Small, semitransparent scallop up to 9 mm.
• Right valve smaller and more convex than left.
• Deep byssal notch on anterior ear of right valve.

Distribution Map from NBN: Similipecten similis at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Similipecten similis at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Similipecten similis

WoRMS: Similipecten similis at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Similipecten similis (Laskey, 1811). AphiaID: 147154.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Mollusca; Bivalvia; Autobranchia; Pteriomorphia; Pectinida; Pectinoidea; Propeamussiidae; Similipecten