Southwest Florida Shells

by José H. Leal

Family Mytilidae

Arcuatula papyria

(Conrad, 1846)

Atlantic Paper Mussel

Shell size to 40 mm; shell very thin, fragile, elongate, tapering gradually toward posterior end. Sculpture of fine concentric growth lines. Surface glossy. Hinge with no teeth. Ligament thin, small. Periostracum thin, green. Color light-gray. Inner surface nacreous. Found in mud in protected bay areas.