Mimachlamys sanguinea

The Mimachlamys sanguinea is an Indo-Pacific bivalve present from the African coasts and the Madagascar up over Australia. Going northwards it reaches the Philippines and south of Queensland the New Caledonia and New Zealand. The 4-6 cm valves, with 20-26 main reliefs, have a vary variable color. May be found yellow specimens, red, brown or violet, often with pale spots. This species that lives attached with the byssus to rocks and corals at 37-71 m of depth, nourishes filtering debris and phytoplankton. Thanks to its splendid sculpture colours is present in many collections © Giuseppe Mazza