![]() Recently, an old shell was found in the Skomer Marine Conservation Zone with a tube-building ross worm growing on it. Native to the North Atlantic, this clam is found on sandy sea beds off the coast of Wales, where it pulls itself under the surface for protection.Īfter it dies, its thick shell is used by other creatures as a place to hide in or settle on. The oldest one ever found was 507 years old, dated from its slow-growing shell. The ocean quahog can live for half a millennium. In autumn they migrate to deeper water, often covering up to 100 miles. They can be found on the rocky reefs and sediment sea beds of Wales. They are omnivores, feeding on whatever is available such as seaweeds and scavenging on dead animals. They can live for up to eight years, moulting their outer skeleton as they grow.ĭuring the ‘soft’ stage, before the new outer layer has hardened, they are vulnerable to predators so find safety in numbers by gathering together in large groups. They have spiny bodies and long spindly legs that, in males, can reach up to one metre across. This has allowed a long-term study of the scallop population and the rich sediment communities where they are found. Scallops have been protected since 1990 at the Skomer Marine Conservation Zone by a fisheries bylaw prohibiting their collection by any method. They are camouflage experts, nestling their curved lower shell into the seabed and coating their flat upper shell with sediment so only their tentacles and eyes remain visible. To escape, king scallops swim away by rapidly opening and closing their valves. ![]() ![]() They provide an early warning of predators approaching by detecting changes in light and motion. During that year, we showcased a different marine species on our website and social media channels. ![]() Please note: this page was created as part of Wales’ Year of the Sea celebrations in 2018. The variety of landscapes in Wales is mirrored underwater from steep rocky reefs on the open coast to eelgrass beds found in shallow sheltered bays.Ībove the shores, our cliffs and offshore islands are home to internationally important colonies of seabirds, including manx shearwaters, puffins and gannets. With around 2,750 kilometres (1,700 miles) of coastline around Wales, our seas provide the perfect home for marine wildlife such as seals, dolphins, porpoises, sharks and jellyfish. ![]()
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