Atlantic Kitten's Paw
Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Mollusca, Class: Bivalvia, Order: Pectinida, Family: Plicatulidae, Genus: Plicatula, Species: Plicatula gibbosa · Plicatulidae (Kitten's Paw or Plicatula family) · Bivalve (two-shelled mollusk); sub-triangular fan-shaped upper valve.
Species
Plicatula gibbosa
Shell Type
Bivalve (two-shelled mollusk); sub-triangular fan-shaped upper valve.
Family
Plicatulidae (Kitten's Paw or Plicatula family)
Size
Approximately 0.5 to 0.75 inches (12-19 mm), which is typical for this small species. Adults usually reach 0.5 to 1 inch in length.
Color & Pattern
Off-white to chalky pale gray with faint brownish-red speckling near the umbo. Exterior shows radial ribs; interior is smooth, porcelain-like, and pale whitish.
Rarity
Common (frequently found in shell drift along beaches in North Carolina and the southeastern US coast).
Habitat
Subtidal marine environments; attached to hard substrates such as stones, dead shells, or coral rubble in shallow coastal waters.
Geographic Range
Western Atlantic, ranging from North Carolina south through Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, and south to Brazil.
Description
A small, sturdy, solid bivalve valve with a distinctive cat-paw appearance. It features thick, radiating ribs that end in a wavy, deeply plicated margin resembling toes on a paw.
Key Features
Thick fan-shaped structure, strong radiating ribs creating a knobby or wavy margin, and tiny dark or reddish-brown lines or spots radiating from the beak.
Collector Value
Minimal financial value ($1-$3 for beach specimens), but high sentimental value for beachcombers due to its charming and recognizable shape.
Condition Notes
Fair to Good condition. Shows moderate surf erosion and bleaching, smooth wear on raised ridges, but retains recognizable ribs and outline.
Interesting Facts
Living Kitten's Paws cement themselves to hard surfaces by their lower right valve, much like oysters. The common name comes from the strong resemblance of a single valve to a kitten's paw pad.
Ecological Role
Sessile filter feeder that cleans coastal waters by consuming microscopic phytoplankton; provides micro-habitat for small encrusting marine organisms.
Similar Species
Rough Scallop (Aequipecten muscosus), which has winged ears at the hinge, and juvenile Eastern Oysters, which lack distinct kitten-paw radial ribbing.
Beach Finding Tips
Look in shell hash lines at low tide after storms along the Atlantic coast. Because they are tiny and heavy, they often settle in high-density shell pockets.
Notes
Oak Island NC