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Shell of the Week: The Blood Ark

  • Writer: José H. Leal
    José H. Leal
  • Sep 27, 2024
  • 1 min read

Lunarca ovalis is an ark clam that stands out because of its heavy fur-like periostracum, or outermost shell layer. Reaching 64 mm (about 2.5 inches), its shell is inflated, oval, and is almost as long as it is high, being one of the shorter ark clams in Florida. As with most members of the family Arcidae, the shell bears a number of radial ribs. The vernacular (“common”) name of this species refers to the color of its blood, imparted by the presence of a form of hemoglobin. The latter helps improve in-body oxygen transport in anoxic (oxygen-depleted) environments. The species is found all along the Eastern Seaboard of the US, Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean to Brazil and Uruguay.


Lunarca ovalis. Illustration by Patricia A. Starke.

 
 
 

9 Yorum


Alex John
Alex John
a day ago

What a fantastic choice for Shell of the Week the Blood Ark! On a trip to the Gulf Coast a few years ago, I actually found one, but I didn't know what it was until I got home and looked it up. For me, shelling has always been a kind of calming pastime, especially when I'm feeling stressed out from school. To be honest, there have been moments lately when I've considered paying someone to pay someone to do my math exam. So I can spend more time at the beach rather than studying.

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Carrie smith
Carrie smith
2 days ago

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