Southwest Florida Shells

by José H. Leal

Family Pectinidae

Argopecten irradians

(Lamarck, 1819)

Bay Scallop

Shell size to 75 mm; shell valves convex, hinge with projections of about same size. Upper valve less convex than lower valve. Surface sculpture of 19 to 21 strong, squarish ribs. Lower valve light color, usually white. Upper valve brownish, reddish, or grayish. A recent study has shown that the subspecific nomenclature for southwest Florida populations of the bay scallop is still unresolved.