Lady-In-Waiting Venus Clam

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Sharon: Seems to agree with the image for Lady in Waiting Venus

Definitely some Lady-in-waiting venus clams in there.
Terri K. Hathaway
Marine Education Specialist
North Carolina Sea Grant
http://www.ncseagrant.org/

Sharon: There is one shell among these that's caused confusion, and I hope it is a lady-in-waiting-venus too. I took photos of top and bottom of the shell. It's ragged around the edges --very odd looking, it's shaped like the other venus clams... but the ridges almost as pronounced as the Imperial venus, but the distance between the ridges are more like the Lady in waiting... but it doesn't quite look like a Lady in waiting venus.

I'm going with the lady-in-waiting for the strange shell -- seeing the bottom edge so serrated seals it for me. With the imperial venus, the bottom edge is finely grooved, not serrated.
Terri K. Hathaway
Marine Education Specialist
North Carolina Sea Grant
http://www.ncseagrant.org/

Bivalves
Clam-Shaped - venus clams (Veneridae)
lady-in-waiting venus Chione intapurpurea (Conrad)
Description: (1 1/2 inches) Round, thick shell. Many concentric edges closer-set than those on the cross-barred venus. Serrated lower edges of concentric ridges give appearance of being crossed by light ribbing. Lateral and cardinal teeth on hinge. Lunule and pallial sinus. Fine crenulations on bottom edge of shell.
Color: Creamy white exterior, often with broken radial lavender stripes. White interior with purple markings.
Habitat: Lives offshore. Occasionally found on ocean beaches.
Range: North Carolina to Brazil.
Source: Seashells of North Carolina, North Carolina Sea Grant College Program