Mimachlamys townsendi (Sowerby, 1895)
A very large growing species and certainly the heaviest of all Pecten with this massive piece exceeding three lbs in weight and measuring a gorgeous 193mm diameter. Such an aged giant has seen a lot of history before finally got caught and lucky it was too to come into my collection where it now rests as a venerable treasure and I don't mind his scars and wholes and nibbles: life can be rough sometimes...
Pecten caurinus (Gould, 1850)
This giant once was a comercial species but for a couple of decades they are all gone and one will find it hard to get a 20cm plus specimen which is only likely to surface from old collections these days; I guess many a seafood aficionado would now wish with considerable remorse to have kept some valves in storage.
Nodipecten nodosus (Linnaeus, 1758)
A very interesting specimen from a Florida population which became known to collectors as late as mid 80's, remarkable for its red and white colour and scaly surface and its complete absence of those telltale nodules that originally gave name to the species. By many considered to be a true species of its own and found in the trade under spurious names, especially since the original diver mixed it up with arthricticus which wasn't helpful at all.
Euvola ziczac (Linnaeus, 1758)
''I got the fever, but not for gold in the grownd'' ....collecting variations makes never more sense than in the Pecten family and this species is especially colourful and variable, a treasure and worth spending time searching for truely magnificent pieces like these old collection beauties from Florida taken in the early 70's.
Aequipecten palmeri (Dall)
These days you you will find it hard to obtain a normal pink specimen and even in its best days this Baja California species was not at all common, so you can imagine what it means to have a true yellow piece like this rare and authentic specimen here wich was one of the treasures in the private collection of the late Virginia Upton, a Lady with profound knowledge of the Baja California habitat.
Mimachlamys senatoria (Gmelin, 1791)
Personally I find colours irresistible and this species is a particulary nice subject due to its rather large size and most brilliant colours; in order to avoid becoming the laughing stuff of chinese shell dealers I limit myself to two drawers tightly packed with these: when a new one arrives an old one has to go, no exception is made however painful the decission might be.
Chlamys multisquamata (Dunker, 1864)
You might think this is not the most interesting species among my bivalves but if I would tell you the actual size of this GEM piece then you were likely get a green and yellow face! So I only say that much: this was one of the showcase beauties in the collection of Tom and Paula Honker of Florida and it is a pleasure to know these two people who are as much at home underwater as I am on land.
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