About Mimachlamys asperrima (Lamarck, 1819)
Mimachlamys asperrima, the species described here, has an adult shell that can grow up to 11 centimetres, or 4.3 inches, across. Like almost all scallops, its shell is fan-shaped and made up of two valves. Each valve is convex and marked with broad ribs that radiate out from the umbo, which is the rounded protuberance located near the shell’s hinge. Just like all other scallops, this species has two irregular, shelly flaps called auricles next to the hinge; the anterior auricle is normally much larger than the posterior one. On the interior of each valve, all scallops show a central round scar, which marks the attachment area for the single strong adductor muscle that closes the two shell valves. The exterior background color of this species’ shell ranges from yellow to light purple. Like almost all bivalve species, Mimachlamys asperrima is a filter feeder. It sifts microscopic algae out of the water that passes through its gills. This species is endemic to the coastal waters of Southern Australia. It lives in crevices in reef and sandy areas, and can be found at depths down to 30 metres, or 98 feet.
