Curator's Corner

Museum, research, and collection updates from Dr. José H. Leal, plus Shell of the Week, which highlights a different species every Friday. Most Shells of the Week—but not all—are found in Southwest Florida.

Dr. José H. Leal serves as the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum’s Science Director and Curator. He received his Ph.D. in Marine Biology and Fisheries from the University of Miami and has served at the Museum since 1996. Under his leadership, the Museum was awarded its first accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums in 2010.

José H. Leal

May 19, 2017

The Broad-ribbed Carditid

The Broad-ribbed Carditid, Cardites floridanus (Conrad, 1838), is a common species on our shores. Its shell may reach about 1.5 inches in size, is very thick and relatively heavy for its size. With its sculpture of thick radial ribs, it vaguely resembles and might be confused with local species of Ark Clams. These latter, however, have a shell hinge consisting of many, small teeth that are similar in size; the Carditid, on the other hand, has a hinge with just a few teeth, al

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Curator's Corner