Museum, research, and collection updates from Dr. José H. Leal, plus Shell of the Week, which highlights a different species every other Friday. Most Shells of the Week are found in Southwest Florida.
Dr. José H. Leal serves as the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium’s Science Director and Curator. He received his Ph.D. in Marine Biology and Fisheries from the University of Miami and has served at the Museum since 1996.
Spengleria rostrata (Spengler, 1783) reaches about 30 mm in length. Its shell is relatively elongate, with a triangular raised area spanning from the beak to the posterior region. That triangular area is festooned with transversal ridges. The shell color is white, with a yellowish periostracum. Rocellarias bore into empty shells and corals, and their burrows are distinguished by typical figure-eight-shaped holes.
Calliostoma adelae Schwengel, 1951 reaches about 40 mm in height, and has a moderately wide spire angle. The shell sculpture consists of finely beaded spiral cords that alternate with narrower threads in the last shell whorls. There are about 2–3 cords with larger, lighter-colored beads above the suture (the boundary between two whorls), the umbilicus is moderately large, umbilicus wall cream-colored, bordered by one larger-beaded cord. The shell color is yellowish-brown, with a pattern of diffu
The Giant African Snail, Lissachatina fulica, has returned for another “visit” to the Sunshine State. The species is native to East Africa, but has been introduced to many other parts of the world via the pet trade, as a food resource, and by accidental introduction, most likely with ornamental plants. Authorities believe that the current invasion, first detected in New Port Richey, Pasco County, results from the illegal pet trade. Giant African Snails first invaded the Miami area in 1966, and w
Calliostoma scalenum Quinn, 1992 reaches about 40 mm in height, and has a moderately narrow spire angle. The shell sculpture consists of finely beaded spiral cords that are intercalated with alternating narrower threads in the last shell whorls. There is a relatively large number of cords on the shell base, the umbilicus is relatively small, umbilicus wall white, bordered by a couple of larger beaded cords. The shell color is light-brown, with a pattern of whitish crescent-shaped spots on the wh
Cryptopecten phrygium (Dall, 1886) lives off the Eastern Seaboard of the US, from Massachusetts to Florida, from 42°N to 18°N, at depths between 90 to 190 m (300 to 620 ft). Its distribution range includes the Gulf of Mexico, where it is relatively common at those depths. The shell color is very variable in this species, including variations of light-gray and magenta patterns. The sculpture consists of 14–20 radial ribs, which are in turn superimposed by narrower riblets, which are also present
This week, the Museum collection data set was integrated into InvertEBase. InvertEBase is a specimen data portal supporting a growing network of natural history collections focused on the study of invertebrate animals, with the exception of terrestrial arthropods (insects, spiders, and relatives). InvertEBase provides a mechanism for network members to manage, enhance, and share biodiversity data and associated images with scientists and the general public. Most partner institutions are based in
Turbonilla dalliBush, 1899, reaches 9 mm (about 0.4 inches). The shell is slender, thin, glassy, and white. The whorls are convex, with about 10–20 slanted and curved axial ribs per whorl. The axial ribs are interrupted at base of body whorl. This is one among at least 20 species of the highly diverse microgastropod genus Turbonilla found on the beaches of SW Florida.
National Shell Museum’s Executive Director Sam Ankerson and I recently participated in the Conchologists of America (COA) 2022 Convention in Galveston, Texas. The successful event was held at the Moody Garden Hotel and Convention Center, which also hosts a world-class Aquarium and an cool, oops, hot and humid Rainforest “biosphere”. At the gathering, I presented a talk about science and research at the Museum and, on the way home, Sam and I took the opportunity to visit the comprehensive Houston
Naria acicularis(Gmelin, 1791), reaches 31 mm (about 1.2 inches). The shell is very variable in coloration and shape, but with a general coloration of yellow to tan with whitish or darker spots. The base and apertural “teeth” are white. The species has a broad distribution in the tropical western Atlantic (but is not present in SW Florida) and is related and relatively similar to the recent Caribbean invasive Trush Cowrie (Naria turdus), and must not be confused with the latter, which tends to b
After the successful Conchologists of America 2022 in Galveston, Texas (see below), National Shell Museum’s Executive Director Sam Ankerson and I had the opportunity to visit the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS). The goal was to explore the recently completed Strake Hall of Malacology and visit with Curator of Malacology Tina Petway. One of the displays that caught my eye was dedicated to pearls and the mollusks that make them, with remarkable examples of pearls made by well-known or com