Natural selection: an illustrator's notebook of common Sarasota shells.
Florida Fighting ConchPrevalent on area beaches and growing up to four inches long, the Florida fighting conch (Strombus alatus, Gmelin, J.F., 1971) is actually quite docile--though when provoked, it earns its title by using a sickle-shaped operculum against its predators.
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atlantic calico scallop
Like many bivalves, Atlantic calico scallops (Argopecten gibbus, Linnaeus, 1758) begin life as males, though some switch to female as they age. These scallops grow to four inches wide. To see which side is up, check the shell: The upper valve has darker markings than the lower.
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Horse Conch
Growing up to 24 inches in length, Florida's state shell, the horse conch (Triplofusus giganteus, Kiener, 1840), is one of the world's largest shell species and also ranks as the Western Atlantic's largest predatory gastropod.
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Illustrations by Susan G. Benjamin for OM Art Designs.
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| Publication: | Sarasota Magazine |
|---|---|
| Date: | Dec 1, 2006 |
| Words: | 144 |
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