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370 American Seashells
to old wrecks in fairly deep water. Perfect specimens have recently sold for
over $40. Formerly called americanus Lamarck, echinatus Martyn and domi-
nicensis Roding. Sometimes called the Chrysanthemum Shell. Not uncommon.
Spondylus pictorum Schreiber Pacific Thorny Oyster
Gulf of California to Panama.
Plate 36a
Up to 5 inches in size. The spines are 1% inches or less in length and
usually bent over. Color variable, and usually more brilliant than the Atlantic
species. A popular, and now fairly high-priced collector's item. Often found
on beaches with their spines worn off. They live in fairly deep water at-
tached to rocks and wrecks.
Fa7mly LIMIDAE
Genus Lima Bruguiere 1797
Lima lima Linne Spiny Lima
Southeast Florida and the West Indies.
Plate 35g
I to I /4 inches in height and pure-white in color. Sculpture of numer-
ous even, radial ribs bearing many erect, sharp spines. The posterior ear is
much smaller than the anterior one. No large posterior byssal gape as in
scabra. Moderately common under coral stones in shallow water. This
species and its various forms or subspecies (squa?nosa Lamarck, multicostata
Sowerby, caribaea Orbigny and tetrica Gould) are found all over the world
in tropical waters.
Lima pellucida C. B. Adams Antillean Lima
North Carolina to both sides of Florida and the West Indies.
% to I inch in height, elongate, fragile, semi-translucent, white, with a
large posterior gape and with a long, narrow anterior gape. Radial ribs small,
fine, uneven in size and distribution. Hinge-ears almost equal in length.
Closely related to L. Mans Gmelin from Europe. A fairly common species
which is often misidentified in collections as L. inflata Lamarck (not Gmelin)
L. antillensis Dall is the same. In thicker and older specimens there is a small,
pinhole depression in the hinge just off to one side of the ligamental area.
Subgenus Ctenoides Morch 1853
Lima scabra Born Rough Lima
Southeast Florida and the West Indies.
Plate 35f, o
.