Scallop
Free-swimming bivalve with numerous eyes and a fan-shaped shell.
Scallop is a common name for various species of marine bivalve molluscs in the taxonomic family Pectinidae, and sometimes for closely related families within the superfamily Pectinoidea. They are a cosmopolitan family found in all of the world's oceans, never in fresh water, and are notable for being primarily free-living, with many species capable of swimming short distances using jet propulsion. Scallops have a well-developed nervous system and a ring of numerous simple eyes around the edge of their mantles.
- classification
- Bivalve molluscs, family Pectinidae
- habitat
- All world's oceans, never fresh water
- distinctive_feature
- Comb-like ctenolium on shell at some life stage
- locomotion
- Free-living, capable of swimming via jet propulsion
- diet
- Filter feeders, eat plankton
- known_for
- Valued as seafood; fan-shaped shells used in art and design
Lore & Background
Scallops are a cosmopolitan family of bivalves found in all of the world's oceans, although never in fresh water. They are one of very few groups of bivalves to be primarily free-living, with many species capable of rapidly swimming short distances and even migrating across the ocean floor. A small minority live cemented to rocky substrates as adults, while others attach themselves to stationary objects using a byssal thread. The majority live recumbent on sandy substrates, but when sensing a predator such as a starfish, they may escape by swimming swiftly using jet propulsion created by clapping their shells together.
Reader's Guide
Scallops hold significance as a food source, with the adductor muscle sold as seafood, and some species are farmed in aquaculture. Their shells, often brightly colored and symmetrically fan-shaped with fluted ornamentation, are valued by collectors and have been used since ancient times as motifs in art, architecture, and design. Owing to their widespread distribution, scallop shells are a common sight on beaches and popular among beachcombers. The family name Pectinidae comes from Latin pecten meaning comb, referencing a comb-like structure near the byssal notch. Scallops possess a unique shell feature called a ctenolium at some point in their lives, which no other bivalve has. Their eyes use a concave mirror of guanine crystals to focus light, a particular innovation among molluscs.
Did You Know?
- Scallops have up to 200 small eyes arranged along the edge of their mantles.
- The adductor muscle of scallops is larger and more developed than that of oysters because scallops are active swimmers.
- All scallops have a comb-like shell feature called a ctenolium at some point during their lives, which no other bivalve possesses.
- Scallops lack siphons and are filter feeders that eat plankton.
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