2012 Small World In Motion Competition

Bay Scallop, Argopecten irradians used for Broodstock in the Luther H. Blount Shellfish Hatchery. You can see the scallop’s intense blue eyes lining the mantle edges on the top and bottom valves.  They are used to see light and shadows of encroaching predators allowing the scallop to swim away as needed.  You can also see the scallop filtering the water over its gills as the particles in the water (live algae) are actively directed into the animal.  This animal was removed from its tank and placed in a container of seawater and allowed to open up.  It was then put back into its tank alive after the video was taken, to be part of the spawning population.