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362 America?! Seashells
6 to 8 inches in size, roughly circular; upper valve almost flat, reddish
gray and with about 17 low, rounded ribs; lower valve deeper, whitish and
with a few more, stronger, rather flat-topped ribs. This is the common,
edible deep-sea scallop of Alaska.
Subgenus Amusiujn Roding 1798
Pecten papyraceus Gabb Paper Scallop
The Gulf of Mexico and the West Indies.
About 2 inches in size, oily smooth, glossy, exterior without ribs, but
internally with about 22 very fine ribs which are commonly arranged in
pairs. Both valves moderately convex to flattish. Upper valve light-mauve
to reddish brown with darker flecks. Lower valve whitish at the center
with yellow to cream margins or all white. Hinge line strongly arched.
Rather rare in collections, but commonly brought up from several fathoms
by shrimp fishermen.
Pecten laurenti Gmelin (pi. 33f) from the Greater Antilles is larger,
with a straight hinge line and with the lighter-colored valve more convex
than the darker valve. Rare.
Section Euvola Dall 1897
Pecten ziczac Linne Zigzag Scallop
North Carolina to Florida and the West Indies.
Plate 33d
2 to 4 inches in size. Upper (left) valve flat; lower valve very deep and
convex. There are 18 to 20 broad, very low, rather indistinct ribs on the
deep valve which is generally colored a brownish red (rarely orange). The
ribs fade out or are not present near the side margins of the valve. Flat
valve with a bright mozaic of whites and browns. A fairly common species.
Do not confuse with raveneli.
Pecten raveneli Dall Ravenel's Scallop
North Carolina, the Gulf of Mexico, and the West Indies.
Plate 33g
I to 2 inches in size, similar to ziczac, but the deep valve has about 25
very distinct ribs which are commonly whitish in color. Between them are
fairly wide, tan or pinkish grooves. In the flat valve, the 25 or so ribs are
rounded in cross-section whereas in ziczac they are flat-topped and much
closer together. A rather uncommon species.