Shell
A small, brightly mottled Gulf and Atlantic scallop — the shell that gives Sanibel's tide line its confetti of pink, orange, and purple.
Argopecten gibbus · Pectinidae
Rounded fan roughly 1.5–2.5 inches across with about 19–21 radiating ribs. Highly variable mottled colour — pink, orange, purple, brown — with the lower valve typically paler.
Keep Exploring
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Continue Your Beachcombing Journey
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Species and look-alikes worth studying side by side. Every card routes into the shell reference.
Family
Related shell in the coastal collection.
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Sinistrofulgur sinistrum
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Donax variabilis
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Shores connected to the shells, regions, and conditions on this page.
Florida Gulf Coast
A gentler beginner alternative to Sanibel Island.
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A more advanced counterpart to Sanibel Island for serious collectors.
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A family-friendly alternative to Sanibel Island.
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Both known for olive shell finds.
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Curated coastal favorites and specimen boxes that echo the story above.
