The Lion’s Paw (Nodipecten nodosus) is a scallop shell, but a large and colorful one with sculpted ridges and bumps in a fan pattern resembling a paw. Coloring can be orange to red or purple. It can be 6 inches (15.2 cm.) long and is sought after by collectors because of these characteristics.
It can be found on the eastern U.S. coast in water 30 – 160 feet deep from the Carolinas to the West Indies and Brazil.
source: National Audubon Society’s Field Guide to Shells
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