60 Marine Shells of the Western Coast of Florida 



Family (ARDITIDAE 



The Carditidae are native to northern, temperate, and warm 

 seas and to moderate depths. All have solid equivalve shells, usually 

 ribbed. 



Genus CARDITA Bruguiere, 1792 

 Cardita'' floridana (Conrad) PI. 10, fig. 56 



Alt., 24; length, 38; diam., 20 mm. Shell solid, heavy; porcelan- 

 ous; creamy ground color, maculations of brown; sand-colored 

 epidermis; equivalve; inequilateral, oval, longest posteriorly; umbos 

 small, umbonal region high, curved inward; small, depressed lunule; 

 15 to 18, strong radiating ribs, lamellated or beaded by transverse 

 growth lines — less prominent in intercostal spaces; external hinge 

 ligament; hinge oblique, strong cardinal teeth, right valve has one 

 anterior lateral, left valve one posterior lateral tooth; interior pure 

 white, smooth; two muscular impressions and simple pallial line well 

 impressed; margins dentate corresponding to ribs. 



Found in the bays, where specimens are more uniformly dark- 

 colored and less thick than shells taken in the Gulf. From shal- 

 low water to four fathoms. 



Genus YENERICARDIA Lamarck, 1801 



Subgenus PLEUROMERLS'^ Conrad, 1867 



Veiierlcardia trideiitata" ' Say PI. 10, fig. 57 



Alt., 7; length, 6.3; diam., 4.5 mm. Shell rather thick, cordi- 

 form, light-brown irregular color markmgs; equivalve, almost equi- 

 lateral; umbos small, round; small lunule; about 16 to 18 beaded, 

 radiating ribs, no sculpture in intercostal spaces. Two cardinal teeth 

 in left valve, separated by a triangular socket which receives single 

 cardinal tooth of right valve. Interior purple; two muscle scars; simple 

 pallial line; margins crenate. 



Taken in three to seven fathoms. 



"^ Gr., kardia, heart. 



"* Gr., plcuro, rib, side; meris, a part. 



'■'' Lat., tri, from tres, three; dens, tooth. 



