Southwest Florida Shells

by José H. Leal

Family Pteriidae

Pteria colymbus

(Röding, 1798)

Atlantic Wing Oyster

Shell size to 75 mm; shell flattened, ovate, inequivalve (one valve flatter). Hinge with large posterior, wing-like projection. Shell surface smooth. Byssal gap near anterior wing. Color dark-brown to brownish-black with radial lines of lighter color. Inner surface nacreous. Usually lives attached to sea-whips.