Florida Spiny Jewel Box (Arcinella cornuta): A Tiny Treasure

About 1-1/2 inches in length, the Florida Spiny Jewel Box is a bivalve found from the coasts of North Carolina to Florida and Texas. It is white; the interior may show tinges of pink or red. The shell itself is thick and heavy for its size. Fresh shell specimens will have more distinct erect tubular spines on the 7-9 rows (ribs) across the shell, radiating from the beak. Notice the rounded bulge near the anterior margin.

The shells pictured here were found at Panama City, Florida.
For more information on the Florida Spiny Jewel Box see:
- R. Tucker Abbott and Percy A. Morris, Peterson Field Guides: Shells of the Atlantic & Gulf Coasts & the West Indies.
- Carol M. Williams, Beach Bountiful: Southeast.
Classification: Family Chamidae; Superfamily Chamoidea; Order Veneroida; Superorder Heterodonta.
Scientific nomenclature is subject to change, due to ongoing research. The above classification coincides with that published by the Conchologists of America, Inc.
Digital formatting is by Jonathan Mitchell.

Florida Spiny Jewel Box:
Beautiful Beach Bauble

Notes

Florida Spiny Jewel Box:Beautiful Beach Bauble

Notes

Florida Spiny Jewel Box:
Beautiful Beach Bauble