Aequipecten opercularis

Researched By	Morvan Barnes	Data Supplied By	MarLIN
Refereed by	This information is not refereed
Taxonomy
Scientific name	Aequipecten opercularis	Common name	Queen scallop
MCS Code	W1773	Recent Synonyms
Phylum	Mollusca	Subphylum
Superclass		Class	Pelecypoda
Subclass		Order	Ostreoida
Suborder	Pectinina	Family	Pectinidae
Genus	Aequipecten	Species	opercularis
Subspecies
Additional Information
Taxonomy References	Howson & Picton, 1997, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Tebble, 1966
General Biology
Growth form	Bivalved	Feeding method	Active suspension feeder
Mobility/Movement	Temporary attachment, Swimmer	Environmental position	Epifaunal, Epibenthic
Typical food types	Suspended organic matter including plankton	Habit	Free living
Bioturbator	Not relevant	Flexibility	None (< 10 degrees)
Fragility	Intermediate	Size	Small-medium(3-10cm)
Height	Not researched	Growth Rate	Not Researched
Adult dispersal potential	Not researched	Dependency	Independent
Sociability	Solitary
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
Additional Information
Biology References	Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Fish & Fish, 1996, Heilmayer et al., 2004, Ansell et al., 1991, Jenkins et al., 2003, Tebble, 1966, Christensen, 1980
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	Found on all British and Irish coasts.
Global distribution	Found in north-west Europe from Norway to the Shetlands and south to Spain and the Canary Isles and in the Meditteranean off the coasts of Malta and Greece.
Biogeographic range	Temperate to warm temperate.	Depth range	Found down to 100 m depth.
Migratory	Non-migratory / Resident
Distribution Additional Information
Substratum preferences	Gravel / shingle, Coarse clean sand, Fine clean sand, Muddy sand, Gravelley sand	Physiographic preferences	Open coast, Offshore seabed, Strait / sound, Sealoch, Ria / Voe, Estuary, Enclosed coast / Embayment
Biological zone	Lower Eulittoral, Sublittoral Fringe, Upper Infralittoral, Lower Infralittoral, Upper Circalittoral, Lower Circalittoral	Wave exposure	Field unresearched
Tidal stream strength/Water flow	Field unresearched	Salinity	Full (30-40 psu)
Habitat Additional Information
AMBI Group (Borja et al., 2000)	I
Distribution References	NBN, 2002, Seaward, 1982, Fish & Fish, 1996, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Heilmayer et al., 2004, Kamenos et al., 2004, Seaward, 1982, Christensen, 1980
Reproduction/Life History
Reproductive type	Permanent hermaphrodite	Developmental mechanism	Not researched
Reproductive Season	June to October	Reproductive Location	As adult
Reproductive frequency	Annual episodic	Regeneration potential	No
Life span	6-10 years	Age at reproductive maturity	1 year
Generation time	Not researched	Fecundity	3 - 6 million eggs
Egg/propagule size	68 µm	Fertilization type	External
Larvae/Juveniles Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential Not researched Larval settlement period June to July and September to October Duration of larval stage 11-30 days
Additional Information
Reproduction References	Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Fish & Fish, 1996, Kamenos et al., 2004, Christensen, 1980