The Littlest Clams on Sanibel Island: Dance of the Coquinas

There are abalone, cherry stone and donax...in fact the list of varieties of clams is dozens long and goes from A to (nearly) Z.

But among the most interesting clams are the tiny ones found on Sanibel Island. They are called coquinas. Coquina is probably a Spanish derivative word coming from coconut, but we like to think of it as a variable on the word "coquette", a female flirt, human kind.

And there is something very flirtatious about the Sanibel coquina.

It's diminutive form, variety of colors, and habit of coming into view and then "disappearing" create an enchanting "act" for the little and delightful coquina.

Sanibel Sea School, one of our most trusted sources of information for the bounty of nature that the Island enjoys, describes the coquina's movement in this way: "Dig your hand into the wet sand right after a wave recedes, and coquinas will seem to pop out of the sand as they pull themselves back down under the cover of the sand. During the summer and into early fall, you can find live coquinas by the handfuls on sandy beaches from Virginia all the way to Texas."

The coquina lives in colonies just below the surface of the sand in the littoral zone (the area along the store which is usually exposed to the sun twice a day due to tides). Deposits of old shells, cemented by their own lime (calcium carbonate) compacted over time, create a limestone soft enough to be cut with a saw. (The shells of all mollusks are formed from lime which they extract from the sea.) This marine limestone can be used as a building material.

The little living clams burrow into the sand at the edge of the surf and are “unearthed” by the action of the waves. This is nature's plan, for each wave brings nourishment to the coquina. They position themselves in the best place for maximum exposure, following the direction (incoming or outgoing) of each wave wash.

Coquina Clams are known by quite a few other names, probably depending on the part of the country where they are found. Bean clams, Butterfly Shell Clams, Wedge Shells, and Pompano are some other names they are known by.

Though there are much bigger products of nature to observer on Sanibel, this beautifully shaped little dodger is an easy watch, delighting adults and children alike with its dance in the Gulf waves.

And shells found on the beach that are no longer living can help prolong your vacation on your return home. Coquina seashells can be used in various shell crafts. Although the seashells are small, the variety of colors and patterns they come in can enhance any item on which they are used.