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408 Avurican SeasheUs
creamy-white with faint mauve stripes on the escutcheon. Interior white,
commonly with a purple splotch at the posterior end. This is a common
shore species, formerly called C. succincta Val.
Chione californiensis undatella Sowerby Frilled Californian Venus
San Pedro, California, to northern South America.
Plate 3ii
Differing from californiensis in being more inflated, usually with more
numerous and more closely spaced, thinner concentric ribs, and retaining
mauve-brown color splotches in the adults. Very common. Aiany workers
consider this a full species, and apparently additional field study is necessary.
Chione fluctifraga Sowerby Smooth Pacific Venus
San Pedro, California, to the Gulf of California.
Plate 31k
lYo inches in height, slightly longer, moderately compressed, subtrigonal;
radial grooves or ribs strong at the posterior third and at the anterior quarter
of the shell; central area with stronger, low, rather wide, concentric ribs which
may have coarse, half-moon-shaped beads. Lunule not well-defined; escutcheon
not well seen and not sunken nor smooth as in californiensis. Exterior
creamy-white, semi-glossy, rarely stained with blue-gray. Interior white
with purple splotches near the muscle scars or on the teeth. Not uncommon
along the sandy shores in southern localities.
Section Timoclea Brown 1827
Chione griis Holmes Gray Pygmy Venus
North Carolina to Key West to Louisiana.
Plate 32!
/4 to % inch in length, oblong, with 30 to 40 fine, radial ribs which are
crossed by very fine, concentric threads. The posterior dozen ribs are cut
along their length by a very fine groove. Dorsal margin of right valve fim-
briated and overlapping the left valve. Lunule narrow, heart-shaped, colored
brown. Escutcheon very narrow and sunken. Exterior colored a dull-gray,
but some Florida specimens tend to be whitish, pinkish or even orange. In-
terior glossy-white with purplish brown area at the posterior end. Pnrple
color on hinge at both ends. Commonly dredged in shallow water.
Chione pygnmea Lamarck White Pygmy Venus
Southeast Florida and the West Iiidies.