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  • José H. Leal

Shell of the Week: The Dwarf Tiger Lucine

Ctena orbiculata (Montagu, 1808) is so called because its circular-

oval shape, whitish color, and sculpture of coarser radiating lines crossed by concentric threads somehow resemble those on the Tiger Lucine, Codakia orbicularis. In contrast to the latter species, the valves of Dwarf Tiger Lucines are never pink internally. Although not very common, the species certainly occurs in Southwest Florida. The complete shell in the photo was collected in 1964, by William C. Brumbach, on the bay side of Sanibel.


The Dwarf Tiger Lucine, Ctena orbiculata. Photos by Patricia Starkey.
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