Bivalve Sanibel Island, FL Dec. 15, 2009 These beautiful maroon, white and pink shells were very common on the beach. Since they are bivalves, live scallops have 2 shells. They have tiny blue eyes at the edge of their mantle and can move away from danger quickly by "jet propulsion" opening and closing their shells rapidly.
Bivalve Sanibel Island, FL Dec. 16, 2009 These were some of the largest bivalve shells I found on the beach (other than the Pen shells).
Bivalve Sanibel Island, FL Dec. 16, 2009 These shells are very easy to identify due to their distinctive cross-hatched lines. The lines may help deter predatory snails that cut through the shells to eat the animal inside.
