Let’s Get to Know the Pinna

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Let’s Get to Know the Pinna

What is the Pinna?

Pinna nobilis, known as the noble pen shell, is the largest bivalve in the Mediterranean. It is found exclusively in the Mediterranean Sea, with a distribution range extending from Spain to the Sea of Marmara. The slow-growing Pinna can reach up to 45-50 years of age and a shell length of 120 cm. It anchors itself to the seabed by embedding a third of its shell and using byssus threads to attach to the substrate.

Where Does It Live?

This long-lived bivalve is native to the Mediterranean, found along the northern and southern coasts of Mediterranean islands, extending from Spain to Turkey. According to previous studies, its known distribution includes: Albania, Israel, Monaco, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Slovenia, Gibraltar, Montenegro, Syria, Algeria, Cyprus, Tunisia, Morocco, Libya, Turkey, France, Lebanon, Greece, Croatia, Malta, Spain, and Egypt.

What is Its Ecological Importance?

It filters 6 liters of seawater per hour, removing suspended particles and clarifying the surrounding environment. Additionally, it provides a substrate for sessile organisms to attach to. It feeds on detritus, phytoplankton, zooplankton, and pollen grains.

Where Can You Find It?

The Pinna nobilis is integrated into life with oxygen-rich seagrass meadows and shows distribution in different habitats. It is densely found in the coastal zone and has been spread to depths of up to 60 meters.