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Phylum Mollusca > Class Bivalvia > Family Pectinidae
Large scallop
awaiting identification*

Family Pectinidae
updated May 2020

Where seen? These large clams are sometimes seen on our Southern shores near living reefs.

Features: Diameter 6-10cm. A circular two-part shell, thick and heavy, yellowish, often covered in sediments. When submerged, a fringe of tentacles emerge, some long and many short tentacles, with many tiny, well developed eyes along the mantle edge.

Clap back clam: It can 'swim' backwards with claps of its shell.

Labrador, Jun 08

'Swimming' backwards with clap of shell.

Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, Jun 15

When submerged, tentacles and tiny eyes can be seen.
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on facebook.

*Species are difficult to positively identify without close examination.
On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience of display.

Large scallops on Singapore shores
On wildsingapore flickr

Other sightings on Singapore shores


Sentosa Serapong, May 16
Photo shared by Ivan Kwan on facebook.

Sentosa Serapong, May 16
Photo shared by Marcus Ng on facebook.

Sentosa Serapong, May 23
Photo shared by Kelvin Yong on facebook.


St John's Island, Feb 24
Photo shared by Kelvin Yong on facebook.

Kusu Island, Jun 24
Photo shared by Che Cheng Neo on facebook.

Cyrene Reef, Jun 16
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on his blog.


Pulau Hantu, Apr 21
Photo shared by Vincent Choo on facebook.

Pulau Hantu, Jun 10
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on his blog.

Terumbu Bemban, Jun 15
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on flickr.


Pulau Semakau, Feb 08
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on his blog.

Terumbu Raya, Jul 11
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on flickr..

Terumbu Semakau, May 18
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on facebook.


Terumbu Pempang Tengah, May 11
Photo shared by Sam Yeo on facebook.

Raffles Lighthouse, Jan 22
Photo shared by Dayna Cheah on facebook.
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