Pinna nobilis

Pinna nobilis, commonly known as the fan mussel, is a large, marine bivalve mollusk native to the Mediterranean Sea. It has a distinctive fan-shaped, folded shell that can reach over a meter in length. As a filter feeder, it filters tiny plankton and organic particles from the water for nutrition. Pinna nobilis plays a vital role in its ecosystem by helping maintain water quality. Due to threats like pollution, habitat destruction, and invasive species, its populations have declined significantly, and it is considered critically endangered. Conservation efforts are underway to protect and restore this important marine species.