Fan mussel  (Atrina fragilis)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Range

This scarce species is found around the coast of Britain and Ireland, with the strongest populations occurring in Scotland and off the southwestern coast of Cornwall (4). It is believed that the fan mussel has disappeared from many inlets in the southwest of England, where it was once common (3). Elsewhere its range extends as far south as the Iberian Peninsula (2).

You can view distribution information for this species at the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.

Habitat

Inhabits waters from the surface down to depths of 400m, and is found in muddy, sandy and gravelly sediments (4).

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