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PECTINIDAE |
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Mimichlamys asperrima (Lamarck, 1819) Doughboy scallop Description: Shape almost circular, plus auricles; byssal notch below auricle of right valve. Both valves moderately inflated, right valve sometimes less so than left. Exterior of both valves with 24-30 raised radial ribs with fine scales, with 1 or 2 fine riblets besides main ribs; auricles radially ribbed. Interior with exterior sculpture showing through, white or concentrically banded with pink or purple. Hinge line long, straight, with several elongate teeth. Shell colour very variable - brown, purple, orange, pink or yellow, with concentric lighter and darker bands. Size: Up to 100 mm in height, usually smaller, about 60 mm. Distribution: Endemic to Australia: south of Fraser Island, southern Qld, southwards and around southern Australia, to off Carnarvon, WA, including Tas. Habitat: Juveniles of this species live attached by the byssus to solid substrates, such as rubble, Pinna shells, and jetty piles at depths of 20-200 m, but adults become detached and live on the bottom. The shell is always heavily encrusted with sponge, which provides protection from predators, particularly starfish (Dijkstra & Beu, 2018). Comparison: This species is most similar to Talochlamys pulleineana in having scaley radial ribs but that is higher than wide rather than circular and it apparently has fewer ribs. Synonymy: Very large specimens from south-western WA have been referred to as Pecten australis G.B. Sowerby II, 1842. Fig. 1: Twofold Bay, NSW, in 54 m depth (C.097545) Fig. 2: Twofold Bay, NSW, in 54 m depth (C.097545)
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