Buttercup Lucine or Checkered Lucine
Phylum: Mollusca, Class: Bivalvia, Order: Lucinida, Family: Lucinidae, Genus: Anodontia, Species: alba · Lucinidae (Lucine family) · Bivalve (two-shelled clam), whole single valve, circular to sub-globose shape
Species
Anodontia alba (or related Lucine species, likely Anodontia or Phacoides)
Shell Type
Bivalve (two-shelled clam), whole single valve, circular to sub-globose shape
Family
Lucinidae (Lucine family)
Size
Approximately 1 inch in diameter, which is typical for many juvenile to mid-size lucines found beachcombing. Adults of related species generally range from 1 to 2.5 inches.
Color & Pattern
Pale creamy white to soft butter-yellow base with faint grayish-purple concentric banding or shadow zones. The colors appear natural and slightly weathered from beach tumbling.
Rarity
Common
Habitat
Shallow subtidal to intertidal zones, typically burrowing in fine sand, muddy sand, or seagrass beds.
Geographic Range
Western Atlantic, extending from North Carolina through Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean.
Description
A solid, inflated, rounded bivalve shell featuring fine, regular concentric growth lines and subtle radial striations. The umbo is prominent and central, curving slightly forward, typical of many veneroid and lucinoid clams.
Key Features
Rounded, inflated circular profile with a central umbo, fine concentric ornamentation, and a lack of prominent teeth on the hinge plate, which is characteristic of the Lucinidae family.
Collector Value
Low to moderate commercial value, mostly collected as part of beachcombing sets or educational displays rather than high-end curation, worth a few cents to a dollar.
Condition Notes
Good condition whole single valve with minor beach wear, intact margins, and natural fading of color. Graded as Good to Fine collectibility.
Interesting Facts
Lucine clams have a symbiotic relationship with chemosynthetic bacteria in their gills, which provide them with nutrients, allowing them to thrive in sulfur-rich sediments.
Ecological Role
Serves as an important prey item for bottom-feeding fish and predatory gastropods while playing a role in marine sediment bioturbation and nutrient cycling.
Similar Species
Other lucines such as the Cross-barred Lucine (Ctena pectinata) or Buttercup Lucine (Anodontia alba), distinguished by the density of their radial and concentric ribbing.
Beach Finding Tips
Look along the high tide drift line on North Carolina beaches, especially after storms or heavy surf, where smaller bivalves wash ashore in shell lines.
Notes
NC beaches