370 American Seashells 



to old wrecks in fairly deep water. Perfect specimens have recently sold for 

 over $40. Formerly called americanus Lamarck, echinatus Martyn and domi- 

 nicensis Roding. Sometimes called the Chrysanthemum Shell. Not un- 

 common. 



Spondylus pictorum Schreiber Pacific Thorny Oyster 



Plate 36a 



Gulf of California to Panama. 



Up to 5 inches in size. The spines are 1% inches or less in length and 

 usually bent over. Color variable, and usually more brilliant than the Atlantic 

 species. A popular, and now fairly high-priced collector's item. Often found 

 on beaches with their spines worn off. They live in fairly deep water at- 

 tached to rocks and wrecks. 



Fa7mly LIMIDAE 



Genus Lima Bruguiere 1797 



Lima lima Linne Spiny Lima 



Plate 35g 



Southeast Florida and the West Indies. 



I to I /4 inches in height and pure-white in color. Sculpture of numer- 

 ous even, radial ribs bearing many erect, sharp spines. The posterior ear is 

 much smaller than the anterior one. No large posterior byssal gape as in 

 scabra. Moderately common under coral stones in shallow water. This 

 species and its various forms or subspecies (squa?nosa Lamarck, multicostata 

 Sowerby, caribaea Orbigny and tetrica Gould) are found all over the world 

 in tropical waters. 



Lima pellucida C. B. Adams Antillean Lima 



North Carolina to both sides of Florida and the West Indies. 



% to I inch in height, elongate, fragile, semi-translucent, white, with a 

 large posterior gape and with a long, narrow anterior gape. Radial ribs small, 

 fine, uneven in size and distribution. Hinge-ears almost equal in length. 

 Closely related to L. Mans Gmelin from Europe. A fairly common species 

 which is often misidentified in collections as L. inflata Lamarck (not Gmelin) . 

 L. antillensis Dall is the same. In thicker and older specimens there is a small, 

 pinhole depression in the hinge just off to one side of the ligamental area. 



Subgenus Ctenoides Morch 1853 

 Lima scabra Born Rough Lima 



Plate 35f, o 



Southeast Florida and the West Indies. 



