Rare giant mollusc found in England

From Wildlife Extra:

Rare giant mollusc found in Salcombe Estuary

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has received a report from Devon of one of the UK’s rarest and most threatened marine creatures, the fanshell (Atrina fragilis).

This giant, but elusive mollusc – like an enormous mussel but growing to more than a foot long – is one of just fifteen live specimens known to MCS around the entire United Kingdom.

The fanshell was found on the 21st March, in a seagrass bed in the Salcombe-Kingsbridge estuary in Devon by University of Plymouth staff and students, and local naturalists.

More fanshells found: here. Near Ireland: here.

Seagrass in Balgzand, The Netherlands: here.

Mussels in the Dutch Wadden Sea: here.