scubaseason

Fan Mussel

Pinna nobilis

Sighting evidence at Karaburun Peninsula Marine Reserve, Albania

Karaburun's posidonia meadows contain one of the largest known remaining populations of fan mussels, the Mediterranean's largest bivalve, which can reach 1.2 metres in length. Critically endangered due to a Haplosporidium parasite that has devastated over 99 percent of Mediterranean populations since 2016, individuals here are closely monitored by Albanian marine biologists as part of ongoing survival studies. The fan mussel hosts a commensal shrimp and crab in its mantle cavity, and each living specimen encountered in the wild is a significant conservation event.

Evidence at this site

No confirmed records on file at this site

Fan Mussel is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.

How is this calculated?

Sighting evidence is compiled from iNaturalist observation records within a set proximity radius, filtered for quality-grade observations. “Last confirmed” is the date of the most recent research-grade record. Record count covers a rolling 24-month window. Confidence reflects record count, recency, and consistency of seasonal signal.