APHOTOMARINE

An educational resource dedicated mainly to the photography
and diversity of marine life that can be found in coastal waters
and intertidal areas of Great Britain and Ireland by David Fenwick.

A-P-H-O-T-O Wildlife Stock Image Library
Atrina rigida (Lightfoot, 1786) - Stiff pen shell (Marine bivalve images)
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Stiff pen shell
Atrina rigida
- shell valve exterior 1

Stiff pen shell
Atrina rigida
- shell valve exterior 2

Stiff pen shell
Atrina rigida
- shell valve interior 1

Stiff pen shell
Atrina rigida
- muscle scar 1

Stiff pen shell
Atrina rigida
- shell valve exterior 3

Stiff pen shell
Atrina rigida
- shell valve exterior 4

Stiff pen shell
Atrina rigida
- shell valve interior 2

Stiff pen shell
Atrina rigida
- shell valve interior 3

Stiff pen shell
Atrina rigida
- group of shell valves 1

The shell valves above were found at Siesta beach, Siesta Key, Florida, USA, 18.11.12. Photographed in UK, in private collection, 07.01.16.

Stiff pen shell
Atrina rigida
- complete shell 1

The shell above, which is being used for reference purposes, was collected live at -0.2 low tide and was buried in mud and sand. The specimen was collected in March 1990 at San Carlos Bay, Punta Rassa, Florida, USA. Photographed in UK, in private collection, 28.01.16.

The species is included here because other fan mussels / pen shells, namely Pinna carnea, have been found on wreckage that has come to our shores from across the Atlantic. The species attaches itself by byssal threads to stone or rock etc., so has the potential to attached to flotsam or plastics that are temporarily trapped on the seafloor, or wreckage in the country of origin before drifting across the Atlantic to the UK.

The specimen was purchased for reference and photography, should the need ever arise to identify the species here in the UK. It might be found on flotsam, wood, marine plastics or fishing floats or traps. etc..

Atrina rigida Stiff pen shell Fan mussel Marine Bivalve Images
The main objective of this website is in furthering environmental awareness and education through the medium of photography. To increase awareness and access to the wildlife of the region and help
people find and identify it. Sometimes the difference between species is obvious but many species can only be determined by observing microscopic characteristics that are specific to any one species.