Banded Tulip

Shell size to 120 mm; shell fusiform, similar to Fasciolaria tulipa, but smaller. Body whorl exhibits 5 to 6 dark brown, widely spaced, spiral lines. Background color is grayish with darker bluish-gray streaks. Mottled with purplish-brown or brown. The additional photo, taken by Amy Tripp near Marco Island, shows a female banded tulip in the process of laying egg cases. The greenish color on the shell is most likely caused by a layer of microscopic green algae. The egg cases were laid in the Museum live tank. The egg case looks like a small version of that of the true tulip, minus the frilled edges. The last supplementary image of a female individual with egg cases was taken by Amy Tripp on Kice Island, Florida.