Pecten maximus

Left shell of the Great Scallop ( Pecten maximus)

The Great Atlantic scallop ( Pecten maximus) is a clam from the family of scallops ( Pectinidae ). It is, as well as the related Mediterranean scallop ( Pecten jacobaeus ), also referred to as a " scallop ". The Great Atlantic scallop is found only in the Atlantic.

Features

This scallop is large up to 14 cm. The two housing halves ( flaps) are shaped differently. The left flap maturity ( in the living animal above) is very flat and even slightly curved inwards, the right door on the other hand curved about 2.5 cm to the outside. The shell outer sides of both types are rough, as they are busy with concentric and very fine Schüppchenreihen. The radial ribs (such as 12 to 14) are formed round in cross section. The shell has a mottled, reddish -brown, flat shell half and a white, bulbous shell half, the latter often partly yellowish to brownish- reddish color pattern shows. At the edge of the mantle have scallops tentacles, between which there are a total of 60 blue, millimeter-sized lens eyes. By sudden closing their shells, they can swim away ten feet away in case of danger.

Dissemination

Pecten maximus lives of Scotland, the Atlantic coasts up to southern Portugal and soft soils colonized.

Economic Importance

Pecten maximus is placed among other species of the genus Pecten as " scallops " in the trade. The main fishing areas are Scotland.