Scallops
Scallops Family Pectinidae
Scallop is a common name that is primarily applied to any one of numerous species of saltwater marine bivalve mollusks in the taxonomic family Pectinidae.
Atlantic Sea Scallop Placopecten magellanicus
Atlantic sea scallops are found in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, from Newfoundland to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
Not found in Barnegat Bay as they inhabit the off shore waters.
They are a highly prized edible bivalve mollusk harvested for their adductor muscle.
When you think of scallops, the image to the left is often what comes to mind first.
The is the finished product, pan seared and cooked to perfection
The sea scallop shell consists two
valves which are large, thick, and oval-shaped.
This shell is often greater in height than width.
The valves are unequal in size, with the lower being almost flat and the upper being convex.
The upper valve is dark in color, usually red or pinkish brown and sometimes rayed with white, while the lower is lighter and is pinkish white.
The shell’s inside is a glossy white with a distinctive muscular scar where the soft body attaches.
Habitat
Sea scallops live in moderately deep water. Populations north of Cape Cod live in shallow water, approximately 64 feet.
South of Cape Cod, populations live in deeper water ranging from 120 to 600 feet.
They can only survive in marine environments and prefer the cool water of the Northern Atlantic, which stays around 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
While resting, they lie on the sand or mud of the ocean bottom.
