Atlantic Wing Oyster
Pteria colymbus
Markings and exact colorations may vary.
A dark, winged bivalve with a pearly interior that grows attached to sea whips and gorgonians.
- Typical size
- 1.5–3 in
- How often it turns up
- Fairly common in drift
- Collecting
- Usually legal to collect
- Handling
- Safe to handle
Empty valves are fine to keep. Do not cut living colonies from sea whips.
How to tell it apart
- One long wing-like extension at the hinge
- Purplish brown outside, iridescent inside
- Thin, slightly warped valves
Where to find these in Florida
Beaches rated very good or excellent for shells. Each page shows today’s score, the best window and access details.
- Anclote Key Preserve State Park · Tarpon Springs
- Bean Point · Anna Maria
- Beer Can Island (Greer Island) · Longboat Key
- Boca Grande Public Beach · Boca Grande
- Bowman's Beach · Sanibel
- Captiva Beach · Captiva
- Cayo Costa State Park · Cayo Costa
- Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park · Naples
- Don Pedro Island State Park · Cape Haze
- Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park · St. George Island
- Gasparilla Island State Park · Boca Grande
- Gulfside City Park (Algiers Beach) · Sanibel
Found one?
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More shells in the field guide
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