Description

 

This large and diverse group of bivalves has a single, fused adductor muscle, and a hinge bearing a socket-like arrangement. The foot is greatly reduced and no siphons have developed along the mantle edge. All scallops possess well developed but tiny eyes set along the edge of the fleshy mantle (See link at right, below; Giant Rock Scallop). Scallops respond instantly to changes in light intensity or nearby moving objects. 

 

Some species of scallops are renowned for their ability to swim. A scallop swims by clapping its valves to ingest water. When the valves close, it then propels water at great force near the hinge, by means of the velum. The velum is a curtain-like fold of the mantle that is used to direct the flow of expelled water around the hinge, much like a pair of movable jets, or lips. Normal swimming is in the direction of the valve opening, but the scallop can sharply change direction with its velum. 

 

Species in the genus Chlamys are sedentary and live attached by a byssus under rocks in intertidal areas. Scallops are found in all seas, from shallow water to great depths.

 

Classification

Class: Bivalvia

Subclass: Heterodonta

Order: Pterioida

Superfamily: Pectinacea

Family: Pectinidae

 

Major Genera

• Genus: Aequipecten
• Genus: Amusium
• Genus: Argopecten
• Genus: Chlamys
• Genus: Cyclopecten
• Genus: Cryptopecten
• Genus: Delectopecten
• Genus: Hinnites
• Genus: Leptopecten
• Genus: Lyropecten
• Genus: Patinopecten
• Genus: Pecten
• Genus: Placopecten
• Genus: Propeamussium
• Genus: Pseudamussium

Swiftopecten swiftii (Bernardi, 1858)
Swift's Scallop

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