About Placopecten magellanicus

The Atlantic deep-sea scallop Placopecten magellanicus is a species in the family Pectinidae. And they are a commercially important pectinid bivalve mollusk native to the northwest Atlantic Ocean. In addition, they are found on the continental shelf of the northwest Atlantic from the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence south to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

Animalia (Kingdom); Mollusca (Phylum); Bivalvia (Class); Autobranchia (Subclass); Pteriomorphia (Infraclass); Pectinida (Order); Pectinoidea (Superfamily); Pectinidae (Family); Palliolinae (Subfamily); Palliolini (Tribe); Placopecten (Genus); Placopecten magellanicus (Species)

Ostrea magellanica Gmelin, 1791

(Gmelin et al., 1791)

The shell has a classic form, with smooth shell and edges, unlike Pecten maximus (common name the "great scallop" or "king scallop") which has flutes and scalloped edges; size is around 80 millimetres (3+1⁄4 in), with individuals up to 170 millimetres (6+3⁄4 in) in diameter. The shell is generally pinkish-red in color, with striped variegation to darker shades appearing in many individuals. The adductor muscle itself is large, often 30–40 millimetres (1+1⁄4–1+1⁄2 in) in diameter. Like all scallops, P. magellanicus has photoreceptive eyes along the edge of the pinkish mantle.

51.7°N to 35.3°N; 75°W to 56°W, Labrador to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina