Scallops

Scallops
Scallops are clams with interesting scallop-edged, fan-shaped shells. Scallops, a very popular food to humans, Scallops are part of the Bivalve Mollusks group, animals with two shells like clams, muscles, and oysters. Scallops usually live in shallow waters in practically all waters (except lakes and rivers) in large groups. 2)
 * General information**

Scallops are shelled aquatic animals that live near the bottom of the ocean.
 * What are scallops?**

Their shells are characterized by radiating ribs or grooves and concentric growth ribs. Close to the ribs, where the two shells come together, the shell is flared from each side forming wings. Just inside each shell, along the edge of the mantle is a row of small sensor tentacles and another row of tiny blue eyes. Their shells are opened and shut by one, over sized adductor muscle which is sometimes called the "eye". 1)

Several species of scallops live along the Atlantic and Pacific North American coasts. An important commercial species is the common bay scallop, found in inlets from Massachusetts to the Gulf of Mexico. Another commercially harvested species is the sea scallop, which may grow to 8 inches (20 centimeters) in width. It occurs from Labrador to North Carolina and is common off Maine and Nova Scotia. Sea scallops are harvested by dragging chain bags over the ocean bottoms. The scallop's adductor muscle is the only part of the animal sold for food. Scallop shells have been used widely in designs and as utensils.

In these pictures the scallop is not moving so if a predator is near it cannot take the scallop out of it's shell.

The scallop shell is the most familiar of the shell-shapes: Shell Oil uses the fan shape design on all of the service station signs. The apostle James uses the symbol of the shell. Crusaders who fought for the Order of the St. James used the scallop shell as a symbol of their allegiance.

Historically the scallop shell has been associated with the cult of the Goddess Venus. The painting the Birth of Venus by Botticelli shows her emerging from scallop shell. She is also depicted as arriving on land from her birth at sea using a scallop shell boat - and the drivers to the shore are the wind-gods Zephyr and Chloris.
 * The scallop shell:**


 * The Giant Scallop:**



Length: 24 meters (79 feet) Depth: 18 - 32 meters (59 - 105 feet) Visibility: 20 meters + (65 feet) The giant scallop spends most time on the sea floor and sleeps it has very few predators and that is only in certain parts of the world. The giant scallop is known to be a vegiterian and has never attacked a human fish or anything for that matter. Links 1) http://www.ocean.udel.edu/MAS/seafood/scallops.html 2) http://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/Article?id=ar493760&st=scallops 3) http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-scallops.htm