Hi, John!
I believe that the Asian specimens you mentioned are the result of A. irradians being introduced to Northeastern Asia, especially China, for aquaculture purposes. When I was in northeastern China (Dalian) in 2004, I collected several specimens, although those were rather plain in color, grayish or brownish. This species is cultivated rather extensively in that area and often exported to Korea, although it has also been introduced to the east coast of the Korean Peninsula.
At the time, when I first collected my specimens, I suspected that they were A. irradians, and a later check with a colleague at the aquaculture lab in our uniersity confirmed that identification.
All the best from Jeju Island!
Ron
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On Mon, 2/16/15, John Timmerman <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Subject: [CONCH-L] argopecten irradians?
To: [log in to unmask]
Received: Monday, February 16, 2015, 11:45 AM
I always understood
Argopectin irradians to be from the Western Atlantic of
North America.
I see the
species attributed to the South China Sea by several
different dealers of specimen shells. The specimens are
often very colorful and of delicate structure compared to
the more robust Atlantic specimens. I have a friend who
obtained a selection of specimens that appear like the Asian
specimens from a farming operation in Massachusetts USA. The
owner said that he packed the mollusk alive and airfreighted
them to Japan, Korea, China etc. where they are marketed as
high end cuisine. Colorful shells are especially prized by
the chefs thus brilliant colors are selected for shipping.
Those specimens from SE Asia appear exactly as those I have
from the farm operation in USA. I am confused. Is Argopecten
irradians a worldwide species or are the Asian examples
possible escapees (or purposely introduce) of those that
were grown in North America and shipped alive to that part
of the world? Or are they a different species altogether?
John
Timmerman
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