This is a broken scallop shell that came from the sea. The scallops scientific name is Placopecten magellanicus. The sea scallop is a bivalve, which means that the organism is encased between two shells. This scallop may be have been eaten by a seagull, other sea creatures or a person by the beach. These shells are very iconic. The long ridges on the outer surface of the shell resemble Roman comb. The word Placopecten translates from Latin to mean “appeasing comb”. The pink scallop is the most common but there are many variations of scallop shells.
An oyster is a salt-water bivalve mollusc. They can be found in shallow, warm waters of all oceans. Oysters are filter feeders. They can siphon up to 25 gallons of water per day through their system. An oysters taste depends on what is in its environment. Factors like salinity, minerals and other nutrients in the water affect the taste and texture. Oysters, like many bivalves, can create pearls. These pearls are a secretion that covers an irritation- like sand or debris. Th pearls that are harvested can be used to make necklaces, bracelets, earrings or other types of jewellery.
This is a common cockle shell. They average length is up to 5cm long and they live for about five to ten years. The common cockle lives on muddy and sandy shores between high tide and low tide. It feeds by filtration and siphoning water that contains plankton and other organic matter. Since cockles are common across the globe, they have become a food source for a variety of animals. Animals like crabs, seagulls, flatfish and other creatures have cockles as a part of their diet. Humans can also eat cockles, it is recommended to have them with malt vinegar.
This is a variation of the common cockle shell. The reason why is its different colour what the cockle is eating. The process of shell creation is call biomineralization. This is because the animal makes the shell itself through using minerals. The shells are made from mineral calcite or aragonite. Each environment or ecosystem has different levels of minerals and environmental factors, hence these it causes colour variation. As the animal grows the shell grows bigger as well. This growth creates growth bands. Adding to the uniqueness of the shell.
A clam is a bivalve mollusc. Clams prefer mud flats, the deep ocean and corals reefs. This clam is a salt-water clam. If not eaten clams can live up to 35 years. Their main food source is plankton. Clams are very common, so they are a food source for their environment. Clams have predators like snails, crabs, shrimp, starfish, fish, and birds. Humans also use clams for food and sometimes for jewellery. In America clam chowder is a popular seafood dish. A clam is another mollusc that can create pearls, but only 1 in 5000 clams forms a pearl.
A Bay Scallop is a bivalve and like most bivalves it filters water for food. The Bay scallop typically eats algae and other organic matter. This scallop can also live up to two years. Bay scallops are one of the few bivalves to have eyes. The eyes line the outer rim of the shells. The eyes help detect movement and serve as a warning system. If the scallop feels threatened it can swim backwards to escape danger.
Mussels are shellfish and are commonly found in seafood dishes. They can be cooked methods like steaming, poaching, deep-frying, pan-frying, stir-frying, baking, grilling, barbecue, smoking, raw (sashimi), pickling. They can be found in lakes, ponds, rivers and streams around the world. They can be fresh water or salt water. Mussels move around with the help of a foot. But usually they can be found attached to a surface next to water and other mussels. Mussels feed by filtering seaweed.
Pigface or Carpobrotus glaucescens is a member of the family Aizoaceae. It is an edible, flowering, native Australian plant. This plant is a succulent that can grow and spread up to 5 meters. Although this plant can grow in many conditions as it is very hardy, it is commonly found growing close to sand and the beach. This plant is generally a spring to summer growing plant. It is a relatively pest free plant and can be grown from a simple clipping.