Touch Tank:
Atlantic Bay Scallop (Argopecten irradians)
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| An Atlantic bay scallop (Argopecten irradians) in its natural habitat among eelgrass (Zostera
marina).
Courtesy: NOAA Restoration Center |
What type of habitat do bay scallops prefer?
Atlantic bay scallops are typically observed in the subtidal zone among
eelgrass beds or on sandy and muddy bottoms to depths up to 60 feet. They
are one of the few filter-feeding bivalves that do not live buried in the
sand or attached to rocks. Instead they settle and move freely along the
bottom sediment surface.
Where can they be found in the coastal U.S.?
Atlantic bay scallops are found in shallow inshore waters, such as
bays and harbors to offshore waters. They range in distribution from the
north shore of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to New Jersey. There are two southern
subspecies: Argopecten irradians concentricus is found from Maryland to
western Florida and Louisiana, and A.i. amplicostatus is found from Louisiana
to Mexico.
What do bay scallops look like?
Unlike most bivalves, which are oblong or oval, the corrugated shell
of the bay scallop is almost perfectly circular and grows up to 3 inches
in diameter. Shell color ranges from gray to yellow or reddish brown, and
the interior is white, often purplish near the hinge. The bay scallop has
a strong hinge muscle within the shell but does not have a foot for digging
or a siphon for water intake.
Why are they important benthic species?
As with other filter-feeding bivalves, bay scallops are important in
cycling organic matter from the water column to the bottom. As a result,
they benefit water quality in coastal estuaries. Bay scallops are also
an important fisheries species.
Did you know…?
Along the edge of bay scallop shells are 30 to 40 bright blue eyes.
Each eye has a lens, retina, cornea, and optic nerve, enabling it to see
movements and to detect predators.
Where can I find more information?
References
Species summary developed from the Web site links provided.
