Pacific Jewel Box (alternate: Leafy Jewel Box)
Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Mollusca, Class: Bivalvia, Subclass: Heterodonta, Order: Veneroida, Family: Chamidae, Genus: Chama, Species: Chama buddiana · Chamidae (Jewel Box family) · Bivalve (clams); this specimen appears to be a single valve fragment or a heavily worn lower valve.
Species
Chama buddiana (Confidence: 85% based on locality)
Shell Type
Bivalve (clams); this specimen appears to be a single valve fragment or a heavily worn lower valve.
Family
Chamidae (Jewel Box family)
Size
Approximately 0.75 to 1 inch (20-25mm). The specimen is a small representative; adults can reach 2-3 inches.
Color & Pattern
Shows characteristic lavender-pink to reddish-purple radial striations and blotching over a cream/white base. The color is faded, suggesting beach-worn or sun-bleached conditions typical of surf finds.
Rarity
Common (Beach-worn fragments are very common in the Cabo San Lucas region; intact, live-taken specimens with full spines are uncommon).
Habitat
Found in shallow marine environments, typically attached to rocks, coral, or other shells. They are sessile filter feeders living from the intertidal zone down to depths of about 50 meters.
Geographic Range
Eastern Pacific, specifically from the Gulf of California (Cabo San Lucas region) south to Panama and Peru.
Description
A rugged, sessile bivalve piece featuring thick, calcified walls. This specimen is a beach-worn valve showing the remnants of foliated (leaf-like) sculptural scales. Its shape is irregular due to its growth habit of cementing itself to hard substrates.
Key Features
Distinguished by its heavy, unequal valves and the 'cemented' appearance. Identification is based on the remaining purple-pink color rays and the traces of overlapping scale-like structures on the exterior.
Collector Value
Low (Under $1 USD). This specimen is a beach-find fragment; collectors typically seek 'Gem' quality specimens with fully extended, intact leafy spines and vibrant primary colors.
Condition Notes
Fair to Poor. The specimen is heavily eroded by wave action and sand abrasion, causing the loss of the delicate leafy spines. The margins are smoothed and the interior luster is dull. Collectibility Grade: Low.
Interesting Facts
Members of the Chamidae family are called 'Jewel Boxes' because when they open, the colorful interior and frilly exterior resemble a textured jewelry chest. Because they cement themselves to rocks, their shape is often distorted to fit the contours of their host.
Ecological Role
They are reef-builders and filter feeders that help clarify the water. They provide micro-habitats for other small marine organisms that live among their spines. Status: Not protected, but local collection laws vary by beach.
Similar Species
Chama mexicana (Mexican Jewel Box), which is usually larger and more robust, and Pseudochama exogyra (Reversed Jewel Box), which attaches by the opposite valve.
Beach Finding Tips
Look in rocky tide pools and among shell drift after a high tide in Cabo. Search for 'ugly' or rock-like growths that show a flash of purple or pink when flipped over.
Notes
Cabo