The jackknife clam is an unusual shape and you’ll be able to identify it right away as the one that is sometimes called the “fingernail” shell.
Long (3-4 inches) and whitish colored, the shell is curved in a fashion resembling someones overgrown fingernail. We used to find them along the eastern shore of Florida.
I recently had a reader on my Seashell Identification page ask what it was. She found hers near Panama City. My reference book says that the green jackknife (Solen viridis) is often found in north Florida and has more of a straight edge on one side, and the other type is called the minor jackknife (Enis minor).
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I loved finding these around the Myrtle Beach area.
I just got back from Old Orchard Beach, ME and found these shells all over the beach. I had never seen anything like it before. Thank you for being here to help me identify them!
Glad I helped you. I haven’t been to Old Orchard Beach in many years.