The scallops is a bivalve that lives in the sand,
and lives from filtration; It filters the water by
pumping water and out and removing it from the
plankton. In case of emergency the scallop closes
valves by force, and swims away. In fact scallops
are fast swimmers but only for short distances.
Scallops in the kitchen
Scallops contain a high level of cholesterol, the stuf with the
bright onrange color. So scallops are not really healthy food.
Scallop Anatomy
The anatomy of the scallop.
This bivalve has one big central muscle. It is that
large as the scallop can actively swim fastly but
not for a long period. But this muscle also aids in
pumping the water through the shell. The eyes on
the mantle is an early warning system against
crab's and seastars.
A scallop on the sea floor, surounded by leaves of sea lettuce..The mantle
has sensitiv tentacles and 64 eyes that war agaist moving shadows
in the near.
A beautiful photo made by John de Jong, more can be seen on Jojodive.
the Queen scallop, closely related with the scallop
A beautiful photo made by John de Jong.
These scallops are freshly catched by fisherman, there are
many different kind of scallops and this is the Pecten maximus
that, as the name indicates, can become large, more then two decimeter.
Pecten maximus is often covered with seaweeds. They are fast swimmers,
but not for long periods.
Opened Scallop valves, the orange part can be
clearly seen. These are the ovaria ans consist
almost purely of cholesterol.
Schelpen van de Noordzee en Oostzee
een plaat uit 1916, bijgewerkt
