May 2, 2022

Florida Trip: March 27-30, 2022

Went shelling in the St. Petersburg area for 4 days. Following is a list of finds.

A. J. Palonis, Jr, Park
5151 West Gandy Blvd
Tampa, FL

Very disappointing - species diversity is much reduced since first visit in 2015.

**BIVALVIA
Laevicardium mortoni (Conrad, 1831) – small but very nicely marked

**GASTROPODA
Hesperisternia multangulus (Philippi, 1848) – yes, WoRMS says it’s back to “multangulus” – atypical appearance
Melongena corona (Gmelin, 1791) – very spiky
Neoterebra protexta (Conrad, 1846) – found with the L. mortoni
Parvanachis ostreicola (G. B.Sowerby III, 1882) – under rocks, but not associated with oysters
Seila cf S. adamsii (H.C. Lea, 1845) – I know, probably a species complex – found with the P. ostreicola
Vokesinotus perrugatus (Conrad, 1846) – found on a small oyster clump


Fort DeSoto County Park
Mullet Key (S of Tierra Verde) – Gulf Side of North Arm From Fort DeSoto Gulf Pier to ~1 Mile North
Almost all found by simple beachcombing along the swash line (tide not a factor).

**BIVALVIA
Anadara transversa (Say, 1822) – there were so many that I just had to take a few
Anodontia alba Link, 1807 – small, but my first complete pair
Arcinella cornuta Conrad, 1866 – many, many all up and down the beach
Argopecten gibbus (Linnaeus, 1758) – first finds - unfortunately, most encrusted with fouling organisms
Atrina rigida ([Lightfoot], 1786) – lots of very small specimens - many larger ones carried small chitons, probably Chaetopleura apiculata (Say, 1834)
Atrina cf A. seminuda (Lamarck, 1819)
Chama congregata Conrad, 1833 – small with nice purple inside coloration
Chione elevata (Say, 1822) – nicely marked specimens
Chionopsis intapurpurea (Conrad, 1849) – first finds - one with W~37-38mm
Dallocardia muricata (Linnaeus, 1758) – a couple with nice yellow interiors
Donax variabilis Say, 1822 – nice colors and patterns
Dosinia discus (Reeve, 1850)
Macrocallista nimbosa ([Lightfoot], 1786) – couldn’t resist taking a few of the tiny ones
Megapitaria maculata (Linnaeus, 1758) – one nice one with W=61mm
Mercenaria campechiensis (Gmelin, 1791) – nicely marked juvenile specimen
Modiolus squamosus Beauperthuy, 1967 - first finds
Noetia ponderosa (Say, 1822)
Plicatula gibbosa Lamarck, 1801 – all verified by characteristic single muscle scar
Pteria colymbus (Röding, 1798) – first finds, attached to half-buried sea plume in mid-intertidal zone
Spisula raveneli (Conrad, 1832)
Stewartia floridana (Conrad, 1833)
Tucetona pectinata (Gmelin, 1791) – first finds

**GASTROPODA
Callotrophon ostrearum (Conrad, 1846)
Cancellaria reticulata (Linnaeus, 1767) – first finds
Cinctura hunteria (G. Perry, 1811) – one a nice orangey form, and another with a dark “flamule” pattern
Crepidula maculosa Conrad, 1846
Epitonium angulatum (Say, 1831) – only Epitonium seen over 4 days – among the shells in the higher drift
Hesperisternia multangulus (Philippi, 1848) – atypical appearance
Oliva sayana Ravenel, 1834 – nice patterns, decent size (one ~55x21mm)
Phyllonotus pomum (Gmelin, 1791) – many, many up and down the beach
Sinum perspectivum (Say, 1831) – took a couple of “baby” Baby’s Ears
Triplofusus giganteus (Kiener, 1840) – all juvenile with that orange or reddish-brown color
Vokesinotus perrugatus (Conrad, 1846) – one nice cream color with thin brown bands

Posted on May 2, 2022 05:55 PM by jerseysheller jerseysheller | 0 comments | Leave a comment

Archives