Photo: Rachael Norris and Marina Freudzon / Mayscallop at en.wikipedia · Image source ·Public domain
Animal profile · Mollusks · Scallop
Bay scallop
Argopecten irradians
Bay scallops are small bivalves that live among shallow-water grasses and algae. They can clap their shells to swim away from danger.
Not a fish · an aquatic neighborWater
Saltwater + Brackish
Shallow coastal bays, estuaries, and seagrass beds.
Temperature
Range not established
A dependable species-specific wild temperature range was not found in the selected sources.
Size
Up to about 7.5 cm (3 in) across
About as wide as a small cookie
Lifespan
Usually about 1–2 years in the wild.
Life expectancy varies with place, conditions, and what scientists have been able to observe.
01 · Signature adaptation
What does it do?
Bay scallops rest on or among seagrass and algae. When startled, they rapidly open and close their valves, jetting water to move through the water.
02 · Home coordinates
Where does it live?
From the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the Atlantic coast of the United States to the Gulf of Mexico.
Regions: Atlantic coast of North America · Gulf of Mexico
03 · The menu
What does it eat?
It draws water through its gills and traps tiny food particles.
Filter feeder: phytoplankton, microalgae, suspended organic particles.
04 · Remember this
Two wow facts
Many tiny eyes
A bay scallop has rows of small blue eyes along the edge of its mantle.
Sources [1]
A swimming shellfish
Unlike many clams, bay scallops can swim by repeatedly clapping their shells.
Sources [1] [2]