Curator's Corner

Museum, research, and collection updates from Dr. José H. Leal, plus Shell of the Week, which highlights a different species every Friday. Most Shells of the Week—but not all—are found in Southwest Florida.

Dr. José H. Leal serves as the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum’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. Under his leadership, the Museum was awarded its first accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums in 2010.

Shell of the Week: The Atlantic False Jingle

José H. Leal

Jan 4, 2019

Shell of the Week: The Atlantic False Jingle

Pododesmus rudis (Broderip, 1834) (family Anomiidae) is very similar to the Common Jingle, Anomia simplex, but can be easily separated from this latter by the rougher-looking valves, with coarser shell surface and the almost complete lack of nacre, the iridescent shell layer known as mother-of-pearl. Common and Atlantic False Jingles and other species in the family Anomiidae attach to hard surfaces (such as large, empty shells) using a peg-like byssus. The byssus passes throu

José H. Leal

May 23, 2014

The Common Jingle

The Common Jingle, Anomia simplex d’Orbigny, 1853, is one of the most common species found on our very shelly shores. Common Jingles are always iridescent (like mother-of-pearl) and come in an assortment of colors: orange, yellow, white, clear, and that lead-gray that is so characteristic of the species. They are bivalves, so there are two halves for each shell. Most of the time, however, shellers find only the top valve: the bottom valve has the hole that is typical for me

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Curator's Corner