The Indisputable Expansion of the Thrush Cowrie in Florida Waters
Since I started publishing information about the invasion of the Caribbean and Florida by Naria turdus back in May 2022...
Curator’s Corner
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.
Shell of the Week: A Sinistral Atlantic Morum
Morum oniscus is one of the few species of the gastropod family Harpidae living in the western Atlantic Ocean. The species may reach...
FUM 2026 – Save the Date!
The next meeting of Florida United Malacologists (FUM) will take place at the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium, Sanibel...
Marginellas of Southwest Florida
Check out the shallow-water marginellas (family Marginellidae) living along the coast of Southwest Florida: 1 – Gold-line Marginella (Dentimargo aureocinctus); 2 – Tan Marginella (Dentimargo eburneolus)...
The “New Sculptures and Colors” Exhibit
As the name implies, this new display in the recently opened Phase 1 of the National Shell Museum & Aquarium’s “Great Hall of Shells” presents a selection of worldwide shells covering a broad range of shapes...
Auger Shells of Southwest Florida
Antillophos chalcedonius is a relatively small (reaching 17 mm, or about 0.67 inch) gastropod, that displays a shell sculpture of strong spiral (“revolving”) threads and well-spaced axial (“vertical”) ridges. The color pattern shows variations of a white background and brownish patches that are more-or-less aligned with the axial ridges. The species is found throughout the eastern Gulf of Mexico, Florida Keys, Bahamas, and the Caribbean Basin southward to Colombia. Antillophos chalcedonius was d
Shell of the Week: The Helmet Vase
Vasum cassiforme is a shallow-water gastropod that may reach 115 mm (about 4.5 inches). Its shell is heavy for its size, thick, presenting robust spines. Given the ending of the species name (cassi + forme = “shaped like a Cassis”),...
The New “Isthmus Pairs” Exhibit!
As I am sure you know by now, the National Shell Museum & Aquarium recently opened Phase 1 of its renovated Great Hall of Shells. It was great to work with the Museum and the design teams and prepare the content and select the shells for all the exhibits...
Ceriths of Southwest Florida
Here is yet another episode of the “Family Pages” series: There at least six species of ceriths (family Cerithiidae) along the coast of Southwest Florida; here they are: 1 – Grass Cerith (Bittiolum varium); 2 – Dark Cerith (Cerithium atratum); 3 – Ivory Cerith (Cerithium eburneum); 4 – Stocky Cerith...
Shell of the Week: The African Fan Scallop
Aequipecten flabellum is an attractive scallop species (family Pectinidae), celebrated for the eye-catching colors of its shells, which include brilliant variations of red and orange with inclusions of white, gray, or black. African Fan Scallops may reach ...