Southwest Florida Shells

by José H. Leal

Family Pinnidae

Atrina seminuda

(Lamarck, 1819)

Half-naked Pen Shell

Shell size to 240 mm; shell fan-shaped, triangular. Hinge area straight, representing larger side of triangle. Surface sculpture of narrow ribs separated by larger interspaces; ribs bearing regularly spaced, fluted spines. Ribs present on about top half of fully grown valve. Large muscle scar well within (below) border of nacreous area (pallial line; see photo [middle] of open pen shell by Amy Tripp showing position of muscles). Byssus at pointed extremity anchors penshell into seagrass bottom. Gaping, narrower side of triangle oriented upward. Shell color dark-olive brown. Compare with Atrina rigida (Lightfoot, 1786), which has ribs extending to bottom half of fully grown shells, a muscle scar jutting above the nacreous area, and golden-orange mantle. The additional photos (by José H. Leal) show how the animal can "zip-up" the inner mantle lobe to help regulate the incoming flow of water.