Head to head
King Scallop vs Queen Scallop
King Scallop
VS Queen Scallop
The king scallop and the queen scallop are the two scallops most often eaten in Britain and Ireland, and they share the same seabeds and the same ability to swim.
| King Scallop | Queen Scallop | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Pecten maximus | Aequipecten opercularis |
| Relationship | A fellow fan-shaped scallop | A fellow fan-shaped scallop |
| Shell shape | A deeply curved lower shell on which it rests, and a flat upper shell that acts as a lid | Two similar, slightly curved valves |
| Size | A shell up to around 15 to 20 cm across | A shell usually 6 to 9 cm across |
| Colour | Radiating ribs on a pale to reddish-brown shell | Colours that vary from orange and red to pink, purple, and brown |
| Swimming | Can escape from predators such as starfish by clapping its shells together to jet through the water in short bursts | One of the most active swimming scallops, clapping its shells to jet through the water to escape predators |
| Eyes and sex | Up to around a hundred tiny blue eyes along the mantle, and is a hermaphrodite with an orange female part and a white male part | Many tiny eyes along the mantle, like other scallops |
| Fishery | Fished by dredging and by hand-picking divers, and a highly valued shellfish | Caught in large numbers by trawling, especially around the Isle of Man, and sold as queenies |
King Scallop vs Queen Scallop: common questions
What is a queenie?
It is the common name for the queen scallop, which is smaller and more colourful than the king scallop.
Which scallop has a flat lid?
The king scallop, whose flat upper shell acts as a lid over a deeply curved lower shell.
Can both swim?
Yes, both can clap their shells together to jet through the water, and the queen scallop is the more active swimmer.