76 Marine Shells of the Western Coast of Florida 



of fine zigzag striations and concentric growth lines; roughened wav}' 

 ridges over posterior area; external ligament extends under umbos; 

 interior white, polished; small, pointed pallial sinus. 



Genus lirPELLARIA Fleurian, 1802 

 Rupellaria typical-" (Jonas) PI. 15, fig. 94 



Alt., 20; length, 25 mm. Shell rough, white, rather thick, un- 

 equally rounded, inequilateral, prolonged and gaping posteriorly; 

 thin periostracum; umbos rounded, not prominent, curved forward. 

 About 40 rounded, elevated ribs, much narrower over anterior area; 

 one strong cardinal tooth in right valve, two in left; interior white; 

 shallow, rounded pallial sinus; margins smooth within, crenate 

 without. 



Genus CORALLIOPHAGA Blainville, 1824 

 CoraIliophagai2i coralliophaga (Gmelin) PI. 15, fig. 95 



Alt., 13.5; length, 25 mm. Shell thin, white, rounded-oval; thin, 

 papery epidermis; umbos inconspicuous, near anterior extremity; 

 surface finely ribbed except over upper anterior area; growth lines 

 lamellate posteriorly; interior white, smooth; shallow, pomted pallial 

 sinus; margins delicate, crenate. 



The animal lives in burrows of other mollusks, sometimes sev- 

 eral in one cavity, and occasionally with the original owner. 



Family TELLIJVIDAE 



The "tellins" are remarkable for the length and mobility of their 

 slender, delicate siphons, and the long and powerful foot. They 

 bury themselves to a greater depth in sand than most other pele- 

 cypods and are able to retract the siphons entirely within the shell. 



Some 500 species are known and the family is represented in 

 all seas. 



The shells are usually equivalve, flattened, rounded in front 

 of umbos, more or less pointed and rostrate behind. The umbos 

 are small and inconspicuous. The external ligament is strong and 

 prominent, teeth variable. The shells of many species are beautifully 

 colored and polished and many are finely sculptured. 



i-"Lat., rupes, rock; typica, type. 

 ^-1 Coral; Gr., phagexn, to eat. 



