1-Perna perna - african mussel - 15 cm in length
This very large species
can tolerate a relatively high pollution, it lives in the same areas than
the European mediterranean species Mytilus galloprovincialis, on
any kind of hard bottoms between 1 and 5 m depth.
It is relatively abundant
near Bizerte
and in the area of Tunis harbour.
2-Eastonia
rugosa- rugosa mactra-
85
mm in length
This large sea-shell
has a high pollution tolerance. It lives, in Tunisia,
only in the neighbourhood area of the Tunis
harbour between 1 and 3 m depth
, on the same sand -mud bottoms as the grooved carpet shell Venerupis
decussatus.
II-Indo-pacific
species living only in southern Tunisia (from the
Kerkena islands to Zarzis ).
3-Pinctada
radiata -pintadina
- 80
mm in length.
This species get into
Mediterranean few years after the construction of the Suez canal
. It is present and very abundant in the Gabès
gulf from the beginning of the 20°
century. But, today, we note his constant
regression due the pollution in the gulf (strong eutrophication by
discharges in the sea of phosphate industry sewage).
However, it remains
very abundant, principally around the Kerkena
islands, on all kinds of hard bottoms between 0,5 and 5 m depth.
Photo 1: inner part of the shell
of a young specimen
Photo 2: old specimen
Photos by
J. Zaouali