The valves are flat and round and have about 20 ribs extending out from the umbo. On either side of the umbo is a pair of small, wing-like extensions that are slightly unequal in size. The colors of the outer surface are variable, spotted or solid, and can be white, red, or orange. The right valve is lighter in color than the left. The inside of each valve is white. The margin of the mantle has lots of sensitive tentacles with eyes.

 

They are found in the Mediterranean Sea and eastern Atlantic coast from Norway to the Cape Verde Islands, the Azores and the North Sea. They are also raised on experimental farms in Spain, France, and the United Kingdom. Queen scallops live on all bottoms, except those covered with rocks, at depths down to 1,312 feet (400 meters), but are most common at about 130 feet (40 meters) Queen Scallops only eat little things in the ocean. They eat small plants and animals floating in the water.

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Humans are the only predators for the Queen Scallop. They eat them in fancy seafood restaurants. People eat the entire body or just the muscle that closes the valves. Sometimes the people would where the valves as jewelry. I learned how the Queen Scallops can swim away from their predators. I also like how the Scallops can live under rocks and cover to hind.

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 Author: John-Mark R

 Published: 03/2008

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Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scallop

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