Peggy Williams wrote:
> Spondylus americanus is common in Florida on both coasts, mostly at
> about 100 feet. Farther south in the Caribbean it is shallower, and
> I've found it intertidally even in the Abacos (Bahamas) and in
> Honduras. S. ictericus in Florida is usually at about 50 feet or a
> little less or more. I've found it intertidally in Bermuda. It is
> ALWAYS at least partly brick red and usually has those white spots on
> the umbones. I do have one with yellow spines but the shell  itself is
> brick red. Any other color combination  is probably S americanus.
>
> S americanus can be very spiny (inside wrecks) with a huge "skirt"
> along the base of the lower valve or have fewer, longer spines (outside
> wrecks and on reefs). The best ones are covered with sponge when found
> - the spines don't break and grow long. The intertidal ones are ugly,
> with very short and sometimes no spines.

Exactly.

I have always wondered whether (a) the encrusting sponge and algae is a
"garden" where the Spondylus grows and harvests food, or (b) the spines
offer protection from predators and the sponge and algae just find it a
happy home.

m

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