Scallop Shell Colouring Page

A scallop is a bivalve mollusc, which means its soft body lives between two hinged shells. Atlantic sea scallops occur in the northwest Atlantic from Newfoundland to North Carolina, often in groups called beds on sandy or gravelly seafloors. Adults are commonly up to 15 centimetres high, while an exceptional shell may reach about 23 centimetres. Sea scallops can live for as long as 20 years. Their broad shells are shaped like fans and strengthened by raised ribs that run from the hinge to the rounded edge. Inside the shell is one powerful adductor muscle that closes both halves. Most bivalves stay fixed or crawl slowly, but a scallop can swim. It rapidly claps its shells and pushes jets of water near the hinge, bouncing or gliding away from a sea star or other predator. Along the mantle edge are many tiny bright blue eyes that sense changes in light and movement. A scallop feeds by filtering microscopic plankton and edible particles from water passing over its gills. Filtering can also remove suspended material from the water. After hatching, young scallops drift as larvae before settling onto the bottom, where they grow quickly during their first years. This colouring page features one large scallop with both ridged shells slightly open. Begin at the hinge and colour outward along each broad rib. Real scallop shells may be cream, grey, brown, rose, red, orange, purple, or patterned, so every band can use a related shade. Try peach ribs with coral edges, or violet ribs with pale lavender spaces. The narrow mantle opening can be orange, cream, or light brown; tiny blue dots along the edge can suggest the scallop's eyes if you wish. Colour the sand pale gold and the smooth pebbles grey, pink, or speckled tan. Use several greens for the seagrass and a warm contrasting colour for the distant sea star. Leave bubble centres white and add a light blue rim so the scallop remains the boldest part of the page.

◫ A4 size✎ Bold outlines♡ Ages 3–8

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