Rough Scallop
Lindapecten muscosus
Markings and exact colorations may vary.
A small, bright orange to yellow scallop whose ribs are covered in tiny raised scales, making it feel like sandpaper.
- Typical size
- 0.75–1 in
- How often it turns up
- Uncommon
- Collecting
- Restricted
- Handling
- Safe to handle
Empty shells are fine to keep on most public beaches. Live shelling is banned in Lee County and Florida state parks and needs a fishing license elsewhere — if an animal is inside, put it back.
How to tell it apart
- Small, under about an inch
- Ribs covered in tiny upright scales
- Bright orange, red or lemon yellow
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?
Photograph it and BeachNut ranks the likely matches with a confidence read, then logs it to your collection with the beach and date.
Browsing beaches and the full field guide is free. A free account logs unlimited finds and gives you three photo identifications a day.
Commonly confused with
Atlantic Calico ScallopArgopecten gibbus
Rough scallop ribs are covered in tiny scales and it is usually smaller and brighter; calico ribs are smooth.
More shells in the field guide
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