Atlantic Calico Scallop

At a glance

Atlantic Calico Scallop (Argopecten gibbus) is a bivalve mollusk regulated in 4 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.

The strictest bag limit is 24 (Oregon); the most generous is 100 (Federal Waters (DFO)).

Confirmed by 3,214 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina the top jurisdictions by observation count.

Notable details

• Has dozens of tiny blue eyes lining its mantle that detect light and approaching movement.
• Escapes predators by rapidly clapping its shells to jet-propel itself through the water.
• Shell colors range widely — orange, red, purple, and brown — giving it the calico name.
• Commercially harvested mainly off the Carolinas and in the Gulf of Mexico.
• Shells typically reach about 2 inches across.

Where Atlantic Calico Scallop are seen

• Florida2,650 iNat obs
• North Carolina305 iNat obs
• South Carolina98 iNat obs
• Alabama80 iNat obs
• Texas61 iNat obs
• Mississippi14 iNat obs

Jurisdictions with rules for Atlantic Calico Scallop

• Federal Waters (DFO)Canada · official source
• Newfoundland and LabradorCanada · official source
• OregonUnited States · official source
• Prince Edward IslandCanada · official source

Background

The Atlantic calico scallop, Argopecten gibbus, is a species of medium-sized edible marine bivalve mollusk in the family Pectinidae, the scallops.

Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Atlantic Calico Scallop article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.