Argopecten irradians
Compared to oysters and clams, scallop’s shells are thin and lightweight to aid in swimming. Scallops are filter feeders and their particular shell color depends on the type of plankton they eat. They have a row of blue eyes visible near the lip of the partially opened shell.
Scallops are one of the cleanest shellfish available. The adductor muscle is not used to filter water, so scallops are not susceptible to toxins or contaminants the way that clams and mussels are. Scallops are low in sodium and saturated fats. They are more than 80% protein. A 3.5 oz. serving of untreated sea scallops has about 88 calories, 0.8 grams of fat and 17 grams of protein.
Unlike mussels and clams, scallops are the only bivalve mollusk that is free-swimming. They are "jet propelled", and swim by quickly opening and closing their shells.
Live shells should never be taken from any Florida State Park.