368 American Seashells 



coast. It is not a very colorful species, although its drab browns and grays 

 are rarely enhvened with yellow. There are 3 distinct subspecies which 

 previously have been little understood. Each has a distinct geographical 

 range and peculiar habitat. 



A. irradians irradians Lamarck. Nova Scotia to Long Island, N.Y. 17 to 

 18 ribs which are low and roundish in cross-section. Each valve is about 

 the same fatness, and the lower one is only slightly lighter in color. Drab 

 gray-brown with indistinct, darker-brown mottlings. The most compressed 

 of the 3 subspecies. This is borealis Say. 



A. irradians concentricus Say. New Jersey (rare), Virginia to Georgia 

 and Louisiana to Tampa, Florida. 1 9 to 21 ribs which are squarish in cross- 

 section. Lower valve (the lightest in color and commonly all white) is 

 much fatter than the dull bluish gray to brown upper valve. Common. 



A. irradians ajnplico status Dall (fig. i6i). Central Texas to Mexico 

 and Colombia. Similar to concentricus, but with only 12 to 17 ribs; more 

 gibbose; lower valve commonly white and with high, squarish to slightly 

 rounded ribs. Common in Texas. 



Aequipecten gib bus Linne Calico Scallop 



Plate 33) 



North Carolina to Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, and West Indies. 



I to 2 inches. A common, colorful scallop found abundantly in southern 

 Florida a little offshore. Both valves quite fat. Ribs usually 20 (19 to 21), 

 quite square in cross-section. Bottom valve commonly whitish with a little 

 color; upper valve can be of many bright hues (lavender-rose, red, whitish 

 with purple or reddish mottlings, etc.). This is dislocatus Say. If collecting in 

 southeast Florida, do not confuse with A, nucleus, 



Aequipecten gib bus nucleus Born Nucleus Scallop 



Plate 34h 



Southeast Florida and the West Indies. 



I to 1/4 inches in size. This is a difficult subspecies to identify, and 

 it is possible that it is only a form. It is rarely over an inch in size, has i to 3 

 more ribs than gibbus, is usually fatter, and is characteristically colored with 

 small, chestnut mottlings on a cream background and commonly with snow- 

 white specklings. Both or only one valve may be heavily colored. Never 

 with the bright shades of orange, red, etc. Not uncommon in the Keys from 

 low tide to a few fathoms on grass. 



Genus Hinnites Def ranee 1821 

 Biologically speaking, this genus is really a Chlamys in which the adults 



