Pecten jacobaeus
Pecten jacobaeus, commonly known as the Mediterranean scallop or pilgrim scallop, is a bivalve mollusk in the family Pectinidae characterized by a flat upper brownish valve and a convex whitish lower valve featuring 15–18 prominent radial ribs.[1] It typically reaches a shell height of 10–15 cm, though specimens up to 21 cm have been recorded, with sexual maturity attained at 5–6 cm shell height.[2][1] This hermaphroditic species inhabits benthic environments on sandy or muddy seabeds at depths of 0–40 m, preferring subtropical waters around 20°C.[1][2] Endemic to the Mediterranean Sea, with its westernmost distribution along the Spanish coast and highest abundances in the Northern Adriatic, P. jacobaeus extends eastward to Lebanon and occurs sporadically in the eastern Atlantic from Portugal to the Canary Islands and Azores.[1][2] Biologically, it exhibits a lifespan of up to 13 years, growing to 100 mm shell length in 2–5 years depending on local conditions, and reproduces via broadcast spawning with a pelagic larval stage including trochophore and veliger forms.[1][2][3] The gonadosomatic index peaks in autumn, reflecting seasonal nutrient accumulation from its diet of diatoms and coccolithophorids.[1] Ecologically, P. jacobaeus plays a role in coastal food webs as both a filter feeder and prey for predators, though populations face threats from overfishing via benthic dredging and environmental changes such as salinity fluctuations from river inflows; populations, particularly in the Adriatic, are considered overfished as of 2022.[1][3] Commercially valued for its adductor muscle, it supports fisheries in regions like the Adriatic, where it is harvested for human consumption, providing notable nutritional content including high levels of protein (9.88 g/100 g), calcium (149 mg/100 g), and iron (8.53 mg/100 g).[1][2] Its shell morphology has historical associations with pilgrimage symbols in medieval Europe, though the species remains distinct from the Atlantic great scallop Pecten maximus based on genetic and morphological traits like rib count (15–17).[1][4][5]Taxonomy
Classification
Pecten jacobaeus is a marine bivalve mollusk belonging to the family Pectinidae, known commonly as the Mediterranean scallop. Its accepted binomial name is Pecten jacobaeus (Linnaeus, 1758).[6] The full taxonomic classification places it within the following hierarchy:Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Pectinida
Family: Pectinidae
Genus: Pecten
Species: P. jacobaeus.[6] Originally described by Carl Linnaeus in his Systema Naturae (10th edition, 1758) under the name Ostrea jacobaea, the species was later reclassified into the genus Pecten due to its morphological characteristics aligning with the scallops.[6][7] The name "jacobaeus" derives from its association with Saint James, reflecting its historical significance in Mediterranean regions. Several synonyms exist, including Ostrea jacobaea (the original combination), Vola jacobaea, and Pecten intermedius (a junior homonym).[6] The type locality for P. jacobaeus is the Mediterranean Sea, from which Linnaeus based his description.[6]