Lion's paw scallop (Nodipecten nodosus)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Mollusca · Class: Bivalvia · Order: Pectinida · Family: Pectinidae · Genus: Nodipecten.

Accepted name: Nodipecten nodosus · Authority: (Linnaeus, 1758) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 225252.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Lyropecten nodosus (Linnaeus, 1758); Lyropecten nodosus gabonensis (Nicolay, 1981); Nodipecten nodosus gabonensis Nicolay, 1981; Ostrea decemradiata Gmelin, 1791; Ostrea nodosa Linnaeus, 1758; Pecten nodosus (Linnaeus, 1758).

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=225252 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)

Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Nodipecten nodosus. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 15 cm · Depth range: 0–185 m · Habitat zone: benthic · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial.

SeaLifeBase notes: Maximum depth from Ref. 104365. At the limit between rocks and sandy or gravel bottoms, often attached to rocks. Also inside small rocky caves and crevices or on sandy or calcareous patches adjacent to rocks (Ref. 93548).

Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 47223) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Nodipecten-nodosus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

752 georeferenced occurrence records for Nodipecten nodosus are published through GBIF from 32 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 146 distinct locations from a sample of 752 records, omitting 73 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: United States of America (521); Brazil (65); Mexico (36); Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (19); Colombia (15); Puerto Rico (11); Dominican Republic (10); Virgin Islands (U.S.) (8); Saint Kitts and Nevis (7); Guadeloupe (5); Panama (5); Cuba (4); Honduras (4); Nicaragua (4); Trinidad and Tobago (4).

Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Port Gentil; Caribbean Sea; South Brazil; Gulf of Mexico; Lesser Antilles; Jamaican Exclusive Economic Zone; Cuban Exclusive Economic Zone; Costa Rican part of the Caribbean Sea; San Andres; Venezuelan Exclusive Economic Zone; Puerto Rican Exclusive Economic Zone; Colombian part of the Caribbean Sea; Panamanian part of the Caribbean Sea; Cayman Islands Exclusive Economic Zone.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2285813) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2285813&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=225252 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

The lion's paw scallop is a species that consists of large scallop shells with ridges and bumps that have a rough texture. The shell is known for its distinct knobs on the ridges. Ranging from red to orange and also purple, the lion's paw scallop ranges in color. The shell's common name is derived from its appearance, the color, and the knobs giving it some visual similarities to the paw of a lion.

Distribution

As the largest scallop of the Western-Atlantic Ocean, the lion's paw has been commercially fished for human consumption for decades. Indeed, the recent decline of abalone fisheries along with an increase in the shell's value has led to aquaculture specific to the species. Their high growth rate makes them popular; however, not much is known about the requirements to improve farming. Due to their popularity in commercial fishing, the lion's paw scallops native to Brazil face the risk of extinction.

Lion's paw scallops are known to be hermaphroditic, so they have both male and female gonads. In external fertilization, an organism will release both eggs and sperm.

The lion's paw shell is valuable to collectors because of its size, vibrant colors, and extremely distinctive features. Because of its large size and it being more common in deeper, rocky waters, it is very rare to find one intact on sandy beaches.

Ecology

The lion's paw scallop is an epibenthic bivalve that usually lives on rocks inside of caves or in shaded areas.

Spawning begins when sperm and egg are released into the water column. "D-shaped" veligers begin to form 22–24 hours after being fertilized.

Nodipecten nodosus are found in the tropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean.They are known to be found in the Caribbean, the Antilles, Virgin Islands, central America, Panama, Columbia, Venezuela and Brazil. They are found in deeper waters, ranging from 9 - 49m (30 – 160 ft) deep. Its habitat ranges from the coast of North Carolina to the West Indies and from Brazil to Bermuda. Lion's paw scallops can also be found in the deeper sections of the Gulf of Mexico.

Lion's paw scallops usually occur in low densities and cannot be farmed from a fishery. It is, however, a commonly used species for aquaculture in the Caribbean Colombian due to their quick growth rate.

Description

The lion's paw can be 6.4 - 15.2 cm (2.5–6 in) long and are nearly circular. It has a moderately thick shell with flattened anterior wings near the hinge. In fact, the shell of the animal is very bright and is known for its thick and knobby texture. Their colors can range from red to orange; however, some appear purple and even yellow in hue.

The lion's paw is an epibenthic bivalve that lives in deep, tropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean in rough sediment and rubble. They are also known to attach to the hard substrate they live in. Lion's paws are filter feeders, so they feed off of microalgae in the water column.

Lion's paw scallops spawn twice a year. Along the coast of Brazil, they are known to spawn once in the winter and once again in the summer.

Lion's paws rarely produce pearls, however, when they do, the pearl is composed mainly of calcite and are non-nacreous.

Source: Wikipedia: Nodipecten nodosus — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nodipecten_nodosus (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.