Queen scallop

Small scallop ( Aequipecten opercularis )

The little scallop ( Aequipecten opercularis ) is a species of bivalve mollusc of the family Pectinidae ( Pectinidae ) within the order Pectinoida. The formerly used scientific name Pecten opercularis was.

Description

The case of this kind is roundish, ribbed approximately equivalve and radially. From these characteristics also its scientific name comes from (Latin: aequis = equal; pecten = comb ). The maximum size is about 90 mm; usually is the kind but smaller. Making it one of the smaller species of the Pectinidae family. The color of the case is very variable. It is often monochrome reddish; but it can also purple, white, his yellow and red, mottled or striped. The mantle edge is covered with long, thread-like " tentacles ".

Way of life

Aequipecten opercularis lives on gravel, and soft soils in the Mediterranean, the North Atlantic and in the North and Baltic Sea, where it grows from a few tens of meters to about 400 m water depth. It belongs to the farmed mussel species. She is quite agile and swims relatively common. It feeds on plankton.

Color variations of the Aequipecten opercularis

Aequipecten opercularis orange colored fins keels

Aequipecten opercularis brown marbled

Aequipecten opercularis red colored fins