Mysterious Objects in Digestive tracts

by Cristina
(Maryland)

I'm a researcher working with scallops. I dissect and then chemically digest their muscles, gills and digestive tracts. I kept finding these relatively large (when compared to sand) asymmetrical spheres in all stomach filters. Did a little research and it turns out they are pearls. I've found up to three in one stomach. I'm very surprised I'm finding the pearls inside the stomachs. I plan on researching the fates of the pearls once formed.

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Jun 03, 2019
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starstarstarstarstar 		Interesting
by: Kari

Hello Cristina,

That's an interesting way to find pearls. I'm not an expert on scallop anatomy, so really couldn't tell a stomach from any other part. I wonder if that is the normal place for scallop pearls to form?

I'm sure some fishing/scallop experts would know. And I guess you are that expert who is learning that.

Yes, what is the fate of a pearl in a stomach? Does it stay there?

Thanks for sharing.

Kari

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