King scallop

General

Shellfish

The term shellfish covers several species of bivalve molluscs, sea snails and other shelled animals. Examples include scallops, mussels, razor clams, oysters, cockles and whelks. Shellfish live partly in or on the seabed and occur worldwide. They filter the water and extract the nutrients they need. Eggs and reproductive cells are released into the water and fertilisation takes place externally. Most species are hermaphroditic and can produce both eggs and sperm during their lives. Shellfish occur in many different shapes and sizes. This diversity is still the subject of scientific discussion.

King scallop

The most well-known species of scallop is the king scallop (Pecten maximus), also known as the great scallop or the St. James shell. This is the largest European scallop and can reach maximum lengths of 17 centimetres. The scallops’ shell is either white, brown, or pink and can be found from Norway down to Portugal. Most scallops, which are sold in shops, are sold without the shell. These are often different species, such as the Atlantic deep-sea scallop (Placopecten magellanicus), the Patagonian scallop (Zygochlamis patagonia) , or the Yesso scallop (Patinopecten vessoenis).