Chlamys hastata (pink scallop)

Found in area 9.

This pink scallop washed up on the mussel bed south of the boat ramp. They usually live in deeper water than you can reach on foot at the Cove. Sometimes they have a living sponge on one valve (see Mycale adhaerens, the pink scallop sponge). The sponge grows on the left valve. Pictured below is the right valve.

Scallops can attach themselves with a byssus (thread like structure) or they can move about by snapping the valves together. Scallops have eyes under the outward edge of the shells. They don’t have vision like ours but they can see well enough to propel themselves away from predators.

You can actually see the remnant of the edible scallop between the valves.