Southwest Florida Shells

by José H. Leal

Family Arcidae

Arca zebra

(Swainson, 1833)

Turkey Wing

Shell size to 80 mm; shell elongate-rectangular (twice as long as high), equivalve. Hinge long, straight. Sculpture of about 26, irregular radial ribs, and fine concentric threads that cross ribs and interspaces. Byssal gap present opposite to hinge, moderately large. Periostracum brown and dense on fresh shells, covering color pattern almost completely. Color creamy-white, streak with reddish- to dark-brown wavy bands. Attached by byssus onto hard substrates.