Noble Scallop (Mimachlamys nobilis)

Bivalves are a group of aquatic mollusks with a unique type of shell that opens on a hinge. They tend to be filter feeders that dwell in or on the sediment on the sea floor, in lakes, near shores, and in tide pools. Several species of bivalve are economically important as food sources, and their shells can be valuable for decoration purposes. Some species can also produce very precious pearls by secreting layers of mucous that harden over time around a grain of sand.