Hello James,

Your description is very compelling. The pelecypod is almost certainly Amygdalum papyrium (Conrad, 1846)
<http://www.malacolog.org/search.php?nameid=11849>.

How does this image compare <http://www.jaxshells.org/1108za.htm>?

Harry


-----Original Message-----
>From: James Cheshire <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Aug 23, 2010 10:09 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: [CONCH-L] unknown bivalve
>
>Hi everyone,
>
>The other day I found a very interesting bivalve in some grass beds
>near Gulf Breeze, Florida. I'm afraid I don't have the right sort of
>camera to get an image, so this quick description will have to do. It
>appears to be Solenidae; it's about 25 mm, with a greenish-brown
>periostracum. About 3/4 of the shell has a finely mottled blue-green
>pattern, with a series of very fine crescent-shaped lines underlying
>it. These lines seem to create an iridescent effect. All in all, a
>very beautiful shell. Any ideas?
>
>Thanks,
>James
>
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