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Sharon: I'm fairly certain this is the Imperial Venus Clam, but would like a confirmation just for the record.
Looks correct to me. They are beautiful -- I have never found those up here before! Nice find!
Terri K. Hathaway
Marine Education Specialist
North Carolina Sea Grant
http://www.ncseagrant.org/
Imperial Venus Chione latilirata (Conrad)
Description: 1.5 inches, Rounded, triangular and inflated shell. Large, heavy concentric ridges rounded and often sharply shelved at the top. Ridges fragile on dry specimens. Bottom edge of ridges not serrated. Bottom edge of shell finely grooved. Cardinal and lateral teeth on hinge. Lunule and pallial sinus.
Color: Tan exterior with lavender blotches and radial stripes.
Habitat: Lives offshore, south of Cape Hatteras, in 60-to 120-foot depths. Occasionally found on ocean beaches.
Range: North Carolina to Brazil.
Notes: This species was frequently found among catches of the Atlantic calico scallop fishery.
Source: Seashells of North Carolina, by North Carolina Sea Grant College Program
2 comments:
i have found the occasional example of these ridged shells on Litchfield Beach. some local jewelers are selling gold and silver copies of these as "Pawleys Island shells" as if they were unique to here. i think they are rare here because our coast is gently sloping and their normal depth is far offshore. your pictures are the only ones i have found on google. thanks for putting them up
pete saussy
bujinin@netzero.com
I have found a half dozen of these shells on pawleys island beach. They are called pawleys island shells by the Locals maybe because they are hard to find. Alsobecause of the jewelry they can sell the tourist s.
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