Scallop

Scallops are amazing sea animals known as bivalve molluscs.

They belong to a family called Pectinidae. Most scallops live in all the world's oceans. However, you will never find them in fresh water. They are often free-living, which means they can move around. Many species can swim short distances very quickly. Some even move across the ocean floor to find new spots.

To move, scallops use a way called jet propulsion. They do this by clapping their two shells together.

This action pushes water out to move them through the sea. They have two different types of adductor muscles to help. One muscle is striated, which helps them swim very fast. The other is a smooth muscle for staying closed. This allows them to keep their shells shut for a long time. They do this without using much energy at all.

Scientists have studied these creatures for a very long time. The family name Pectinidae comes from the Latin word pecten. This word means a comb. It refers to a comb-like structure on the shell called a ctenolium.

This special feature is found in modern scallops. Even though it is important for naming them, some adult scallops lose it. No other bivalve has a shell feature like this one.

Scallops have many interesting body parts and numbers. They can have up to 200 small eyes around their mantle.

These eyes are only about 1 millimeter wide. They use tiny mirrors made of guanine crystals to see. This helps them spot shadows from predators like starfish. Most scallops live in shallow water up to 100 meters deep. They can be found on rocks, coral, or even seagrass.

People have interacted with scallops for many centuries. Many species are highly prized as a food source. The meat people eat is actually the large adductor muscle.

Collectors also love their beautiful, fan-shaped shells. These shells often have bright colors and pretty ridges. Because of this, people have used scallop shapes in art and buildings since ancient times. You might even find beautiful shells while walking on a beach.