by Jeffrey S. Pippen | Back to Jeff's Miscellaneous Invertebrates Page | Jeff's Nature Pages
Note, I'm no expert in shell/mollusc identification, so these are my best attempts at it using various resources and friends!
![]() |
Sunray Venus (Macrocallista nimbosa) Collier Co., FL 29 Dec 2010 Fairly commonly found on beaches in the southeast US. |
![]() |
Sunray Venus (Macrocallista nimbosa) Collier Co., FL 29 Dec 2010 |
![]() |
Yellow Prickly Cockle (Trachycardium muricatum) Collier Co., FL 29 Dec 2010 |
![]() |
Broad-ribbed Cardita (Cardites floridanus) Collier Co., FL 29 Dec 2010 |
![]() |
Calico Scallops (Argopecten gibbus) Collier Co., FL 29 Dec 2010 |
![]() |
Stiff Pen Shell (Atrina rigida) Collier Co., FL 29 Dec 2010 Very common washed up on beaches in the southeastern US. Note about 10-20 strong longitudinal ridges. |
![]() |
Stiff Pen Shell (Atrina rigida) Collier Co., FL 29 Dec 2010 |
![]() |
Stiff Pen Shell (Atrina rigida) Collier Co., FL 29 Dec 2010 It's not unusual to see the freshly dead muscle of the animal expelled from the shell. |
![]() |
Stiff Pen Shell (Atrina rigida) Collier Co., FL 29 Dec 2010 Slipper shells, barnacles, and other marine life often attach themselves to pen shells. |
![]() |
Sawtooth Pen Shell (Atrina serrata) Collier Co., FL 29 Dec 2010 Fairly common washed up on beaches in the southeastern US. Note about 30 or more relatively weak (compared to A. rigida) longitudinal ridges. |
![]() |
Sawtooth Pen Shell (Atrina serrata) Collier Co., FL 29 Dec 2010 Although both species can grow to 8 inches or more, here is a Sawtooth Pen Shell (lower left) with some smaller Stiff Pen Shells. |
![]() |
Sawtooth Pen Shell (Atrina serrata) Collier Co., FL 29 Dec 2010 A mix of pen shells on the beach. |
Created on ... Jan 3, 2011 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com