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 Longspine Star Snail

José H. Leal

Apr 19, 2019

Shell of the Week: The Longspine Star Snail

Lithopoma phoebium (Röding, 1798) measures up to 70 mm, and has a turbinate shell that is usually wider than taller, with about 12–17 triangular spines on the shell periphery. These spines may be worn or reduced in size in some specimens. The shell base is flat, with wavy threads crossed by a few raised spiral cords. The color is variable, with light-brown and greenish hues present, and a whitish base. Although the species is common in other parts of the Gulf of Mexico and Ca

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