Curator's Blog

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

Apr 7, 2017

The Southern Marsh Clam

The Southern Marsh Clam, Polymesoda floridana (Conrad, 1846), is a species of bivalve mollusk found locally, mostly in the back-bay areas, including the Caloosahatchee estuary and mangrove habitats. This species has a broad tolerance for changes in salinity. Its adult shell measures from 1 to 1.5 inches; the shell is roughly triangular, with rounded ventral (bottom on the photos) and pointed posterior (left on photos) margins. The shell sculpture is restricted to irregular gr

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