Cumingia tellinoides

Geological Range

Late Pliocene to Late Pleistocene; Recent.

Paleogeographic Distribution

Southern Florida to North Carolina.

Remarks

For information on the modern distribution of the species, see Malacolog and WoRMS.

Original Description (from Conrad, 1838, p. 28-29):

"Shell ovate-trigonal, thin, with numerous prominent concentric wrinkled striae; anterior side ventricose; the posterior side contracted, subcuneiform; the base near the extremity slightly emarginate; cardinal fosset large; lateral teeth very prominent.

[...] Locality. James river, near Smithfield, Virginia.

Observations. I found a specimen of this shell between the laminae of the Chama corticosa, where it had evidently resided when living. Like the Saxicavae, and other lithophagous bivalves, it is irregular and variable in outline. In a recent state this species inhabits the coast of Rhode Island, and has been found as far south as Florida, but is very rare on the immediate coasts. I obtained a single valve on the beach of Sullivan's Island, near Charleston, South Carolina."

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Stratigraphic Occurrences

Late Pleistocene

Fort Thompson Formation (S. FL)

Pamlico Formation (N. FL)

Middle Pleistocene

Bermont Formation (S. FL)

Canepatch Formation (SC)

Early Pleistocene

James City Formation (NC)

Waccamaw Formation (SC, NC)

Late Pliocene

Duplin Formation (SC)