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Southwest Florida Shells with Emphasis on Sanibel & Captiva

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.