408 Avurican Seas he Us 



creamy-white with faint mauve stripes on the escutcheon. Interior white, 

 commonly with a purple splotch at the posterior end. This is a common 

 shore species, formerly called C. succincta Val. 



Chione calif orniensis undatella Sowerby Frilled Californian Venus 



Plate 3ii 



San Pedro, California, to northern South America. 



Differing from calif orniensis in being more inflated, usually with more 

 numerous and more closely spaced, thinner concentric ribs, and retaining 

 mauve-brown color splotches in the adults. Very common. Aiany workers 

 consider this a full species, and apparently additional field study is necessary. 



Chione fluctifraga Sowerby Smooth Pacific Venus 



Plate 31k 



San Pedro, California, to the Gulf of California. 



lYo inches in height, slightly longer, moderately compressed, subtrigonal; 

 radial grooves or ribs strong at the posterior third and at the anterior quarter 

 of the shell; central area with stronger, low, rather wide, concentric ribs which 

 may have coarse, half-moon-shaped beads. Lunule not well-defined; escutch- 

 eon not well seen and not sunken nor smooth as in calif orniensis. Exterior 

 creamy-white, semi-glossy, rarely stained with blue-gray. Interior white 

 with purple splotches near the muscle scars or on the teeth. Not uncommon 

 along the sandy shores in southern localities. 



Section Timoclea Brown 1827 

 Chione griis Holmes Gray Pygmy Venus 



Plate 32! 



North Carolina to Key West to Louisiana. 



/4 to % inch in length, oblong, with 30 to 40 fine, radial ribs which are 

 crossed by very fine, concentric threads. The posterior dozen ribs are cut 

 along their length by a very fine groove. Dorsal margin of right valve fim- 

 briated and overlapping the left valve. Lunule narrow, heart-shaped, colored 

 brown. Escutcheon very narrow and sunken. Exterior colored a dull-gray, 

 but some Florida specimens tend to be whitish, pinkish or even orange. In- 

 terior glossy-white with purplish brown area at the posterior end. Pnrple 

 color on hinge at both ends. Commonly dredged in shallow water. 



Chione pygnmea Lamarck White Pygmy Venus 



Southeast Florida and the West Iiidies. 



