Peggy Williams wrote:
> correction, Mike: the deeper water shells are Spondylus americanus.
> They can be white, pink, orange, red or yellow. The ones from about 50
> feet that are brick red with white speckles on the umbo are Spondylus
> ictericus. They have fewer spines, are smaller, and the spines may be
> spatulate or "fingered".

I suspected the brick red ones were a different species. They are common
on the reef but not on the wrecks.

But I have what I am sure are S. americanus, some with short spikes,
some with long spatulate spikes. The difference seems to be exposure to
current.

m

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