The Buttercup Lucine, Anodontia alba Link, 1807 is a local clam belonging to the diverse family Lucinidae. Its shell may reach about 50 mm (about 2 inches) in length, and is circular, inflated, with many fine, commarginal (concentric) growth lines. The color is mostly dull-white, and the internal surface of the shell valves is bright-yellow to orange. Lucinids are mostly filter-feeders that also host symbiotic bacteria in their gills, which provide them with an additional source of food. The Buttercup Lucine is no exception to that.
The Buttercup Lucine, Anodontia alba, from Sanibel. Photos by José H. Leal.