#pteriomorphia

📍 Location: Nags Head, North Carolina 🗓 Date: May 24, 2025 🐾 Media: Image 🌿 Species: Atlantic Calico Scallop (Argopecten gibbus) 📝 Notes: Small marine bivalve found in sandy or shelly substrates in shallow coastal waters of the western Atlantic. Shell is fan-shaped with radiating ribs and variable coloration, often showing mottled patterns of orange, red, purple, and white.

Unlike many bivalves, scallops are capable of limited swimming by rapidly clapping their shells together to create jet propulsion, allowing short bursts of movement when disturbed.

Polyplacophora. This class is made up of chitons, marine creatures that live under rocks. Their shells are made up of eight plates, protecting them while also allowing them to flex upwards or curl into a ball.

Pteriomorphia. This subclass is made up of bivalves with large gills used for feeding and rudimentary photoreceptors. Memebrs include mussels, scallops, oysters and pen shells

Hemphill's file shell (Limaria hemphilli)

Cockscomb oyster (Lopha cristagalli)

Iridescent clam (Pedum spondyloideum)

Flame shell (Limaria hians)