7. THE SPONDYLUS (No. 1) 



These vividly colored and handsomely spined bivalves are usually securely anchored 

 to coral. A free swimmer is most unusual. Some of our finest specimens are 

 brought up by sponge divers at Tarpon Springs. Lovely as they are when exhibited, 

 Oine would hardly recognize the spiny oyster so encrusted are they with calcareous 

 structures and deposits which must painstakingly be removed without harm 

 to the long delicate spines. 



1. Spondylus americanus, Hermann (Thorny Oyster) 

 Brilliant red, yellow, orange, white, purple and brown. 

 Some with a combination of two or more of these colors. 

 This extraordinary shell is ornate with radial, ruffled spines. 

 3"-5" Range: Florida east coast and Gulf 



These specimens taken at Tarpon Springs and dredged at Dry Tortugas 



THE CHAMA 



This family is often gregarious, several individuals anchored together, Yellow, 

 pink, purple, white. Well developed foliations with fluted edges. 



2. Chama macerophylla, Gmelin (Jewel Box) 



Height: l"-3" Range: Florida east coast; Florida west coast from Tampa 



Bay to Marco Island 



Specimens brought in by sponge divers at Tarpon Springs 



3. Chama concregata, Conrad (Congregate Chama) 

 Height : 1" Range : Tampa, Florida to West Indies 

 Specimens brought in by sponge divers at Tarpon Springs. 



4. Echinochama arcinella, Linne (Chest Rock Oyster) 

 Height li/4"-2" Range: Florida west coast. 



These specimens dredged along Gulf coast and Dry Tortugas 



5. Chama Sarda, Reeve (Little Jewel Box) 

 Height: 1" Range: Florida Keys 

 Specimen taken off Key Largo. 



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