Buttercup Lucine
Phylum: Mollusca, Class: Bivalvia, Order: Lucinida, Family: Lucinidae, Genus: Anodontia, Species: Anodontia alba · Lucinidae (Lucine family) · Bivalve (single valve); heavy, globose, and circular shape.
Species
Anodontia alba (Confidence level: 85%)
Shell Type
Bivalve (single valve); heavy, globose, and circular shape.
Family
Lucinidae (Lucine family)
Size
Approximately 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter. Typical range for adults of this species is 1.5 to 3 inches.
Color & Pattern
Pale cream to chalky white exterior with faint concentric growth lines. The focal image shows some localized yellow-orange staining, which is characteristic of the 'buttercup' interior color bleeding through or mineral staining. The interior (not visible but inferred) typically hosts a deep buttery yellow or orange hue.
Rarity
Common; frequently found on beaches along the Florida coast and the Gulf of Mexico.
Habitat
Marine, subtidal species. Typically found in sandy or muddy substrates, often buried deep in the sediment in tropical and subtropical waters.
Geographic Range
Western Atlantic, primarily from North Carolina south through Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean to Brazil.
Description
A sturdy, thick-walled bivalve characterized by its almost perfectly circular, 'inflated' or globose profile. The exterior is relatively smooth compared to other Lucines, showing only fine, irregular concentric growth rings. Its most famous attribute is the warm, yolk-yellow interior that gives it its common name.
Key Features
Distinguished by its lack of hinge teeth (the 'Anodontia' name refers to being toothless), its deep bowl-like inflation, and the lack of strong radial ribs which separates it from the Cross-hatched Lucine.
Collector Value
Minimal monetary value ($1-$5) due to its abundance, but highly desirable for beginners and beachcombers because of its pleasing shape and the beautiful interior color of fresh specimens.
Condition Notes
Good. The valve appears mostly intact with a slight chip or erosion on the left margin. The surface is somewhat weathered or beach-worn, which is typical for beach-found specimens. Collectibility Grade: Fine.
Interesting Facts
Lucines have a unique symbiotic relationship with chemosynthetic bacteria living in their gills. These bacteria oxidize hydrogen sulfide from the sediment to provide nutrients to the clam, allowing them to thrive in environments with low oxygen or high sulfur.
Ecological Role
Bivalve filter feeders that help oxygenate the substrate through burrowing and maintain chemical balance in sandy marine ecosystems through their bacterial symbiosis.
Similar Species
Lucina pensylvanica (Pennsylvania Lucine) which has a distinct diagonal fold/groove, or Divalinga quadrisulcata (Cross-hatched Lucine) which has chevron-shaped ridges.
Beach Finding Tips
Look for these after storms on Gulf Coast beaches. They are heavy and often wash up near the high-tide line. Freshly dead specimens will still retain the bright orange interior color.