What are some facts about scallops?

Scallops are bivalve animals in the phylum Molusca, a group that includes oysters, octopi, snails and squid. Scallops have two identical fan-shaped shells and up to 60 eyes. They travel by rapidly clapping their two shells together with their adductor muscles, producing a water jet that propels them forward.

Scallops can be found worldwide in the deep sea and intertidal areas. They are bottom dwellers that feed on plankton. Many scallop species are hermaphroditic, although some species have both males and females. They reproduce by spawning, releasing both sperm and eggs into the water. Predators include crabs, lobsters, fish and humans. The adductor muscle is edible and found in many cuisines.