Elegant Dosinia, Dosinia elegans



Here are three photographs of what I presume are a type of clam shell I found on the shore of Holden Beach, NC.

According to The Shell Book, Atlantic, Gulf, Carribean, this shell most strongly favors the listing on p.52. This shell is common to North Carolina, known as the "Chalky Buttercup Shell", under Lucines and Bittersweets.

If this is the correct identification, then this particular shell's latin name is Anodontia philippiana, with measurements of 2-4" common from NC to Eastern Florida, Cuba and Bermuda.


Correction:
Your "chalky buttercup shell" is probably an elegant dosinia (Dosinia elegans) which is pretty common on NC beaches. Lots of times, you can find them still attached at the hinge. They grow to about 4 inches.
Terri K. Hathaway
Marine Education Specialist
North Carolina Sea Grant
http://www.ncseagrant.org/

1 comment:

seashellsbymillhill said...

I am also trying to identify my shells found along the Florida gulf coast and I agree that this looks like an Elegant Dosinia.

Some Common Coastal NC Species

Alternate Tellin
Alternate Tellin
, Tellina Alternata (Say)

Angelwing
Angelwing
, Cyrtopleura costata (Linnaeus)

Atlantic Auger
Atlantic or Eastern Auger
, Terebra dislocata (Say)

Atlantic calico scallop
Atlantic calico scallop
, Argopecten gibbus (Linnaeus)

Common Nutmeg
Common Nutmeg
, Cancellaria reticulata (Linnaeus)

Cross Barred Venus
Cross Barred Venus
, Chione cancellata (Linnaeus)

Angelwing
Fallen Angelwing
, Atlantic Mud Piddock, Barnea truncata (Say)

Angelwing
False Angelwing
, Petricola pholadiformis (Lamarck)

Humphrey Wentletrap
Humphrey Wentletrap
, Epitonium humphreysii (Kiener)

Imperial Venus Clam
Imperial Venus
, Chione latilirata (Conrad)

Keyhole Limpet
Cayenne keyhole limpet
, Diodora cayenensis (Larmarck)

Keyhole Sand Dollar
Keyhole Sand Dollar
, Mellita quiquiesperforata (Leske, 1778)

Lettered Olive
Lettered Olive
, Oliva sayana (Ravenel)