Pinna (genus)
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Pinna Temporal range: Carboniferous - Recent |
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| Pinna nobilis shell and byssus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Bivalvia |
| Order: | Pterioida |
| Family: | Pinnidae |
| Genus: |
Pinna Linnaeus, 1758 |
Pinna is a genus of bivalve molluscs belonging to the family Pinnidae. The type species of the genus is Pinna rudis.
The most completely studied species in the genus is P. nobilis, a Mediterranean pen shell which was historically important as the principal source of sea silk.
These pen shells can reach a length of about 80–90 cm (31–35 in). They are characterized by thin, elongated, wedge-shaped, and almost triangular shells with long, toothless edges. The surface of the shells shows radial ribs over their entire length.
Pinna is distinguished from its sibling genus Atrina by the presence of a sulcus dividing the nacreous region of the valves, and the positioning of the adductor scar on the dorsal side of shells.
These bivalves most commonly stand point-first in the sea bottom in which they live, anchored by a net of byssus threads.
Species in the genus Pinna are geographically widespread. This genus is very ancient, going back up to the Carboniferous period. It is especially represented in Jurassic and Cretaceous fossils.
Species in the genus Pinna include:
Valves of Pinna carnea
A live individual of Pinna nobilis
Fossil valve of Pinna folium from Jurassic
Fossil valve of Pinna ampla from Late Jurassic
Pinna rudis
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