Noble pen shell
Pinna nobilis
- Scientific name
- Pinna nobilis
- Group
- Nudibranchs & Molluscs
- Rarity
- Epic
- Where to see it
- Mediterranean
- Conservation status (IUCN)
- Critically endangered
Did you know?
The noble pen shell is the largest bivalve in the Mediterranean, growing up to 1.2 meters tall and living more than 20 years anchored upright in the sand. Since 2016, a parasite has wiped out nearly all known populations, making it one of the most endangered marine species in Europe.
What defines this group — Nudibranchs & Molluscs
Sea snails, with or without a shell — nudibranchs traded theirs for warning colours.
- “Nudibranch” means naked gills: the plume on the back is their breathing apparatus.
- Two rhinophores on the head act as a nose, following scent trails.
- Many recycle the venom of their prey — anemones, hydroids — for their own defence.