Southwest Florida Shells

by José H. Leal

Family Veneridae

Chione elevata

(Say, 1822)

Florida Cross-barred Venus

Shell size to 34 mm; shell thick, trigonal. Sculpture of blade-like concentric ridges crossed by radial ribs. Interspaces between ribs smaller than between ridges. Lunule heart-shaped, dark. Color white to light gray. Sometimes brown rays. Internally white, frequently with blue-purple markings. The featured image is a complete shell from Sanibel Island, the second image represents a shell from Jupiter Sound on the east coast of Florida, ex-Swenson Collection.