Kelp Scallop

Leptopecten latiauratus

Kelp Scallops are small bivalve mollusks with shells measuring between three to five centimeters. Their shells are mostly circular and feature two flat auricles extending from the hinge, often adorned with ridges radiating from the hinge toward the mantle. The coloration of the shell can vary, typically displaying shades of orange, brown, red, and black, sometimes in a zigzag pattern. This species is equipped with approximately 40 small eyes along the mantle, which help it detect predators and escape through jet propulsion. This species is found along the Pacific coast from Point Reyes, California, down to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, and into the Gulf of California, Mexico. Kelp Scallops inhabit depths ranging from the low intertidal zone to 250 meters, where they attach to kelp, hard substrates, or invertebrates using byssal threads. They are primarily found in benthic environments and are often located in kelp forests. Kelp Scallops are filter feeders, likely consuming phytoplankton and small invertebrates. They reproduce through a life cycle that includes free-swimming larvae. Encounters with Kelp Scallops during dives can be intriguing due to their unique shell shapes and colors, as well as their behavior of quickly propelling away when disturbed. The conservation status of this species has not been evaluated by the IUCN.