Scallop shells
Description
Scallop shells (Pecten novaezelandiae) are a common sight along sandy or muddy New Zealand beaches. This scallop shell was found along an Auckland beach and still has its original orange/brown surface colouration.
New Zealand scallops can be 180 mm long, and this specimen was around half that size.
Teaching connection
Scallops are an example of an invertebrate animal. Specimens like this scallop model are studied by students in 199.211 Invertebrate Zoology at Massey University.