Here is yet another episode of the “Family Pages” series: There at least 8 species of melampus and their relatives (family Ellobiidae) associated with mangrove ecosystems along the coast of Southwest Florida; here they are: 1 – Left-handed Melampus (Blauneria heteroclita); 2 – Amber Melampus (Creedonia succinea); 3 – White Melampus (Ellobium dominicense); 4 – Eastern Melampus (Melampus bidentatus); 5 – Bubble Melampus (Melampus bullaoides); 6 – Coffee Melampus (…
Turbo jourdani is one of the largest species of turban shells, reaching at least 20 cm (about 8 inches). The Jourdan’s Turban is geographically restricted to western and southern Australia. This shell, displayed with its massive operculum, is species number 52 in the new “Global Distribution” exhibit of our renovated “Great Hall of Shells”. Don’t miss it! …
After almost three years of planning, design, and fabrication, the central exhibits area of the Great Hall of Shells is open to the public. The Hall had been closed since Hurricane Ian made landfall on Sanibel in September 2002. Actual harm from the storm to the exhibits was negligible, but repair to water damage to the walls required removal of many exhibits. The time was ripe for much-needed renovation anyway. Executive Director Sam Ankerson decided to tackle the challenge head-on. Phase One of the Great Hall of Shells. Photo: José…
For a few years now, the Senckenberg Museum Frankfurt and Unitas Malacologica have been promoting the election of “Mollusks of the Year.”...
Cerithium litteratum could just as well be called the “Lettered Cerith,” as one of the meanings of the Latin word litteratum is...
Do you know the cockles (family Cardiidae) from Southwest Florida? They are: (1) Little Dove Strawberry Cockle (Americardia columbella); (2) Yellow Egg Cockle (Laevicardium mortoni); (3) Florida Prickly Cockle (Trachycardium egmontianum); (4) Atlantic Giant Cockle (Dinocardium robustum); (5) Yellow Prickle Cockle (Dallocardia muricata); (6) Broad Paper Cockle (Papyridea lata); (7) Painted Egg Cockle (Laevicardium pictum); (8) Common Egg Cockle (Laevicardium angmagsalikense). The photos are not to scale. As usual, click on each scientific name…
Another cool production from ChangingSeas.tv (WPBT, South Florida PBS) starring yours truly, this one a short clip about shell growth...
It's scallops time! These are the scallops (family Pectinidae) that may be found on the shores of Southwest Florida: 1 – Atlantic Calico...
Hello! A member of the Venus clam family Veneridae, Petricolaria pholadiformis gets its name from a superficial similarity with the...
Last September 13 I discussed how ultraviolet light (UV, aka “black light”) reveals structurally distinctive shell parts, using as an...