Southwest Florida Shells

by José H. Leal

Family Basterotiidae

Basterotia quadrata

(Hinds, 1843)

Square Sportella

Shell size to 14 Shell squarish, or with relatively angled "corners." Shell with delicate granular sculpture in well-preserved specimens. The main feature of this small white bivalve is the well-developed cardinal tooth present on the hinges of both valves. A ridge is present near the posterior margin. Loose valves found by Susan J. Hewitt on Turner Beach (Captiva), in December 2015, December 2016, and December 2021.