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Calico Scallop
Argopecten gibbus · Size: About 1.5 to 2.5 inches
Fan-shaped, with ribs and a mottled pattern of purple, red, orange, yellow and white. No two are quite alike, so they are a favorite for shell crafts.
How to identify it
Look for the fan shape, the two small ear-like wings at the hinge, and the speckled, multicolored shell.
Where to look near Sarasota
Single valves wash up on all of the local beaches, and the colors are brightest on fresh ones. Matched pairs still joined at the hinge are rare.
More shells to look for
Finding calico scallops with a guide
Calico scallop shells litter the bottom on calm nights and look especially bright under the LED light. They are an easy, colorful first find for kids on the tour.
Fun Florida Tours runs a guided night shelling and snorkeling tour in shallow Gulf water at Siesta Key, Sarasota and Anna Maria Island. You wade in from shore with a guide, the group shares one bright LED light pod that lights up the bottom, and the water stays under 4 feet deep, so you do not need to be a strong swimmer. After 60 minutes in the water we spend 15 minutes on the sand for show-and-tell, where guides name everything the group found. Empty shells are yours to keep; anything alive goes back.