Bay scallop (Argopecten irradians) on the seabed. This scallop is also called the blue-eyed scallop,due to its striking blue eyes,which line the margins of its shells. This bivalve mollusc is considered a delicacy,and it has been farmed for its flesh. In the wild,it inhabits the coastal regions of the north-western Atlantic Ocean,from the northern USA to Texas. Unlike many bivalves,it is capable of escaping predators by rapidly opening and closing its shells,which causes it to "swim" up and away from harm. It is a filter- feeder,sifting food particles from the water. Photographed off Cape Cod,Massachusetts,USA |