Scallops (Latin of Pectinidae) edible types are objects of trade and artificial cultivation. Dishes from a comb enjoy wide popularity, give them at many restaurants of Europe, Asia and America.
The scallop is the medium-sized clam living in the seas and oceans. Some types of combs are eaten, and their gentle meat is considered a delicacy. Sinks of these mollusks are used in the decorative purposes.
Scallop in cookery
Edible part of a comb is meat of a cloak and a muscle which connects sink shutters. On consistence the muscle is similar to fillet, and tastes like a crabmeat a little. The comb is low-calorie and contains a large number of useful minerals.
Scallops is object of trade production of seafood. On catch volume they rank third after oysters and mussels. Some types of edible combs get divorced in special pools and cages.
Habitats of combs
The greatest number of types of these mollusks meets in the seas and oceans of a subtropical moderate zone. They live also in coastal sites in shallow water, and at big depths. The light comb (Chlamys albida) is widespread in an Asian part of the Pacific Ocean, also it lives in the Chukchi Sea. The Beringovomorsky comb (Chlamys behringiana) lives in the Pacific Ocean, in a large number meets in a southeast part of the Chukchi Sea and also to the Beaufort Sea (Arctic Ocean). The Black Sea comb (Flexopeclen ponticus) which is subspecies of the Mediterranean comb (Mediterranean scallop) lives in the Black Sea.
Appearance
Combs have a sink of rounded shape with direct back edge. On each side sinks are located ledges ears. Top shutter usually more flat, and lower more convex. The majority of mollusks a sink relief, on it can have ridge cambers, thorns or scales. At shallow combs the sink usually large is also painted in pink, white or reddish color. On a sink there can be a spotty pattern. At deep-water types of a shutter of sinks fragile and thin, usually they translucent also have thin outside edges. Combs eat plankton or detrity (small particles of vegetable organisms and the remains of animal organisms). They take food from water, tightening it in a mantle cavity. The comb with a diameter of sink about four centimeters can filter about three liters of water an hour. At scallops there are a lot of enemies, starfishes and octopuses are the most dangerous. Also some water inhabitants parasitize on combs. The drilling sponges get into their sinks. And on shutters seaweed can grow, lodge mshanka, balyanusa and other small invertebrates. Parasites complicate movement of combs.