Species of the Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean lobster, or red lobster,
is a decapod shellfish. The body has a
cilindric shape and it’s covered with a shell.
It’s usually dark red fading to violet, and it’s
generally 20-40 cm long. On the front it has
got two red-yellow striped antennas longer
than the body and curved backward. It’s
common in the Mediterranean Sea and in the
eastern Atlantic Ocean.
Palinurus elephas
The red shrimp is a decapod shellfish. The
carapace is strong and thorny, with an intense dark
red colour. Although it’s very small at birth, it can
grow up to 22,5 cm; generally the males are
smaller than females.It’s common in the
Mediterraneansea,in southeastern Africa, Mexican
gulf, Australia and New Zealand. You can find it in
Japan and Canary islands too.
Aristeomorpha foliacea
The simetite is a rare variety of amber. It comes
back to the Miocene era (20 millions of years
ago), and it can be found in different colours,
from dark red to dark blue.
On the inside the researchers found new animal
species, like the Emeria simetitia, an insect
discovered in 1984. It’s present in sicilian coasts
near Catania (especially near Simeto river, which
comes the name from) and in eastern shoreline.
Simetite
Also known as Mactra Corallina, it’s a thin
shell almost opaque and slightly glossy,
brilliant. The surface is composed of numerous
very fine and irregular strias, stronger towards
the ventral edge. The colour can vary from
white to yellow to grey. The species lives in the
sandy-muddy sea bottoms.
Mactra stultorum
It’s a lamellibranch clam (bivalve mollusc),
also known as mussel. The valve, mainly
made of CaCO3, is generally black
(sometimes fading to violet) on the outside;
on the inside it’s nacre with a smooth
surface. The shape is roughly quadrangular.
The mussel grows in the whole
Mediterranean sea.
Mytilus galloprovincialis
This big family lives in tropical waters and in
the Mediterranean sea. They can have
different shapes and structure: from the
thinnest (Murex), thornier , to the thickest
(Drupa), similar to fragments of cliffs. They
have really vivid colours and they are used as
decorations.
Muricidae
It’s a species of scallop, an edible saltwater
clam. It has the classic shell shape and it can be
found in really different colours. The mollusc is
vulgarly known as «capasanta». It lives in sandy
bottoms and it anchors to substrate. In Europe it
lives in the Mediterranean sea and in the coasts
of Great Britain.
Pecten jacobaeus
The European flat oyster (or edible oyster) is a
clam (bivalve mollusc) with an almost circular shell.
It’s irregular, with a rusty surface. Some oysters,
mainly the oriental seas’ species, make pearls. It’s
really appreciated in Mediterranean cousine. The
oyster lives anchored on rocky coasts; it’s common
in the Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, and North
Sea.
Ostrea edulis
Common name Ribbed Mediterranean
Limpet, it’s is undoubtedly the most
beautiful and the most popular sea snail in
our sea. It is able to reach maximum
dimensions of about 9 cm. This particular
species can live also out of water.
Patella Ferruginea
There are about 25 species of Gibbula in the
Mediterranean, but for sure the Gibbula Nevosa
(also known as Maltese top shell) is the most
interesting and important, as it is only found in the
island of Malta. It is really small – about 8 mm in
diameter – and it lives in deep waters.
Gibbula nivosa
Common
name
The
Wandering Triton or The
Little Frog Triton, is a huge
species. The shell size varies
between 9 cm and 24 cm.
This species has a wide
distribution. It is found in
European waters, in the
Mediterranean Sea, in the
central and southern Atlantic
Ocean, Indian Ocean and
Caribbean Sea.
Ranella Olearium
Pinna nobilis, common name the noble pen
shell or fan mussel, is a large species of
Mediterranean clam. It is the biggest shell in
the Mediterranean sea and it is in danger of
disappearing. It can reach 80 cm of height.
Inside, it is mother of pearl, with grey and
light blue shades. Outside it is less flashy.
Pinna Nobilis
Commonly known as Zoned Mitre, it was
considered, until the 70’s, one of the most rare
species of the Mediterranean sea. The
dimensions are very large, over 8 cm. It lives in
muddy places.
Mitra zonata
Commonly known as Giant Tun, it is one of the
biggest and rare of Mediterranean “Gasteropodi”. It
has a spinal ribbing in its surface, a big muzzle with
a slight and dentate lip. This very large sea snail or
tun snail is found in the North Atlantic Ocean as far
as the coast of West Africa, Mediterranean Sea
and Caribbean Sea.
Tonna galea
The End
Thanks for watching
Greetings from Sicily !
Liceo” Giovanni Verga”
Adrano