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Rock Scallop, (Crassedoma giganteum)

Seen From Its Top
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The Rock Scallop are filter feeders and rely on currents to bring plankton to them. Rock scallops are almost always found out of direct sunlight and normally have a covering of marine growth that makes them nearly indistinguishable in with the surrounding rock.


Rock Scallop (Crassedoma giganteum)   •  Monterey Bay Aquarium internal link   •  886 Cannery Row, Monterey, California   •  (Photo posted Wednesday 16 November 2011)   •  (Photo taken 16:38:51 Wednesday 20 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCY_2311
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Two Rock Scallop
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All scallops are broadcast spawners. They release eggs and sperm into the water at the same time. In Central California Rock Scallops spawn in April.


Rock Scallop (Crassedoma giganteum)   •  Monterey Bay Aquarium internal link   •  886 Cannery Row, Monterey, California   •  (Photo posted Wednesday 16 November 2011)   •  (Photo taken 16:39:16 Wednesday 20 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCY_2312
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Cemented
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Once they grow to about an inch or so in diameter, they then flap their way up into a rocky nook and begin to cement one shell to the rock. Permanently affixed, scallops grow very slowly and may take 25 years to reach 5 to 10 inches (12 to 25 cm) in diameter.


Rock Scallop (Crassedoma giganteum)   •  Monterey Bay Aquarium internal link   •  886 Cannery Row, Monterey, California   •  (Photo posted Wednesday 16 November 2011)   •  (Photo taken 16:39:26 Wednesday 20 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCY_2313
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