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.

Peggy

           Peggy Williams: shell collecting trips
          Visit my website: www.Shelltrips.com
                               PO Box 575
                        Tallevast FL 34270
                           (941) 355-2291
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