36 



EAST COAST MARINE SHELLS 



The Limas are free or spin a bys- 

 sus for attachment; some when adult mix to- 

 gether sand, coral fragments and shells 

 forming an artificial burrow several times 

 the length of the shell and closed at both 

 ends. 



GENDS LIMA Roeding 1798 (FILE SHELLS) 



LIMA INFLATA Lamarck. Inflated File. Shell 

 very oblique, thin, inflated, gaping at 

 both ends so that valves only touch at 

 hinge and base; ligament wide, triang\ilar; 

 low, delicate ribs on surface, often with 

 finer riblets between, their edges rough- 

 ened; inner margin serrate and showing 

 traces of ribs. Length 32 mm. 



The writer observed several nests, 

 under stones, in Biscayne Bay, Florida, 

 off Arch Creek. The animal is of a bril- 

 liant orange color and provided with long 

 tentacular filaments. When disturbed this 

 Lima rapidly opens and closes its shell, at 

 the same time ejecting a stream of water 

 upward. According to Johnson it propels 

 itself rapidly through the water by a quick 

 movement of the valves but in the opposite 

 direction than Pecten. The Biscayne Bay 

 specimens, although removed from the water, 

 sensed danger and instinctively went 

 through the motions of swimming. 



PI. 13, Fig. 14 



Cape Hatteras, North Carolina to 



Trinidad, West Indies 



LIMA LIMA Linne (L. squamosa Lam.). 

 Original File. Shell thick, oblique, gap- 

 ing a little on both sides; ribs twenty to 

 twenty-four, thick, rounded, with sharp 

 erect imbrications. Length 1-1.5 inches. 



This delicately beautiful shell has 

 a wide distribution. It has been reported 

 from the Red Sea and Mediterranean. 



PI. 10, Fig. 5 



Southern Florida to Barbados 



LIMA HIANS Gmelin. Gaping File. Shell 

 thin, smooth at sides, minutely striated 

 in the center of valves; slightly gaping at 

 posterior end, widely so at anterior end; 

 cardinal tooth area small. Length 44 mm. 



A deeper water species, living in 

 15-S8 fathoms. 



PI. 10, Fig. 3 



Florida Strait and West Indies 



LIMA SCABRA Born. Rough File. Shell thick, 

 rather straight, posteriorly slightly gap- 

 ing, anteriorly more so; roughened with 

 fine radiating ridges which are scaly; 

 margin of shell toothed by the sculptxire; 

 hinge area triangular; epidermis brown. 

 Length 2-2.75 inches. 



This large and distinctive Lima is I 

 frequently obtained by the sponge divers 

 on the Florida west coast. 



PI. 10, Fig. 1 



Cape Hatteras, North Carolina to 



Trinidad, West Indies 



LIMA TENERA Sowerby. Delicate File. 

 Closely related to L. scabra. The notched 

 ribs are much finer, when perfect they ex- 

 hibit small erect terminations to the notch- 

 es. Length 1-2 inches. 



This species may prove to be only 

 a variety of L. scabra. 



PI. 10, Fig. 14 



Florida and West Indies 



GENOS LIMATULA Wood 1839 



LIMATDLA SDBADRICULATA Montagu (L. sulca- 

 tus Leach). Little Ear File. A minute 

 form with very faint costae and a broad 

 hinge margin. It has been taken on the 

 British coast. Length 14 mm. Depth range 

 15-50 fathoms. 



PI.- 10, Fig. 4 



North Atlantic; Labrador to Porto 



Rico 



Family Anomiidae 



Shell translucent, slightly pearly 

 inside; attached to oysters or any solid 



object by a plug 

 * passing through a 



^ \ e hole or notch in 



^— — /'"'^^ left or lower con- 

 cave valve; upper 

 valve smooth and 

 convex; interior 

 with four muscular 

 impressions and sub- 

 marginal pit. 



The Anomias, 

 which have become 

 fixed during life, have practically lost 

 their foot. The development of the shell 

 is shown ip Fig. 33. 



Fig. 35 



Shell development 



of Anomia 



