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 Small-callus Vitrinella

José H. Leal

Mar 17

Shell of the Week: The Small-callus Vitrinella

Teinostoma parvicallum Pilsbry & McGinty, 1945, reaches only about 2 mm (0.08 inch) in diameter. The shell is smooth except for very faint growth lines, which are more noticeable around the suture, or the groove separating two successive whorls. There is a small callus (thickening) at the center of the umbilicus (the “hole” on the base of the shell). As with many members of the micromollusk family Teinostomatidae, the shell color is translucent-white. This species is among th

Shell of the Week: The Biconic Top Turrid

José H. Leal

Apr 29, 2022

Shell of the Week: The Biconic Top Turrid

Brachycythara biconica (C.B. Adams, 1850) reaches about 6 mm (about 0.25 inch). As the name implies, the shell is shaped like a double cone. The shell is sculptured with about 13–17 axial (“vertical”) ribs per whorl, and is entirely covered with interrupted micro-grooves that impart a “frosted” appearance to the shell. The shell color is cream-white, with a broad light-brown band at mid-whorl and another, narrower, just below the suture. The shell in these images was collecte

Shell of the Week: The Bladed Wentletrap

José H. Leal

Nov 19, 2021

Shell of the Week: The Bladed Wentletrap

Reaching 18 mm (about 0.7 inches) in size, Epitonium albidum (d’Orbigny, 1842) has a thin, light shell with a sculpture of 10–14 sharp, delicate, blade-like ribs (known as “costae”). Unlike other local wentletrap species, the ribs on the Bladed Wentletrap bear no hooks or projections. The ribs on successive whorls are aligned, forming slanted “rows.” The shell in the image is from the Bahamas, but the species is also found on Sanibel and other parts of Florida, including the

José H. Leal

Nov 12, 2021

The Fearless Slipper Snail

Is that Spotted Slipper Snail safe piggybacking on the operculum of a young Horse Conch? When feeding, the conch extends out of its shell. Consequently, the operculum will be on the opposite end of the head (and mouth), as that hard structure is permanently attached onto the rear part of the foot. So, in spite of the alluring “smells” emanating from the slipper snail, it’d be virtually impossible for the conch to reach back and eat it, as long as the latter remains attached.

José H. Leal

May 14, 2021

Shell of the Week: The McGinty Cyphoma

Cyphoma mcgintyi Pilsbry, 1939 live in association with sea whips and sea fans, and can be found on the East Coast of Florida, the Caribbean, and parts of the Gulf of Mexico. The glossy, smooth nature of the shell results from the animal being able to completely envelop the shell with the soft mantle when active. The shell typically has faint tints of lilac or pink color. #mcgintycyphoma # cyphomamcginty #ovulidae #sanibel

José H. Leal

May 7, 2021

Shell of the Week: The Scorched Mussel

Brachidontes exustus (Linnaeus, 1758) reaches about 25 mm (about one inch). The shell has a “semi-triangular” outline, with a sculpture of many very fine radial ribs that form minute denticles on the inner edge of the valves. The color is yellowish-brown to dark-brown, with the inner surface a metallic purple mottled with white. Genetic studies in the past have shown that what we consider to be the Scorched Mussel may consist of more than one species. #brachidontesexustus #sc

Shell of the Week: The Southern Ribbed Mussel

José H. Leal

Apr 30, 2021

Shell of the Week: The Southern Ribbed Mussel

Geukensia granosissima (G.B. Sowerby III, 1914) grows to about 75 mm (about 3 inches). The shell has a straight dorsal (“upper”) margin, with the beak at the anterior one quart. The posterior end is broad and the ventral (“lower”) margin is curved inward. Relatively strong radial (departing from the beak) ribs are characteristic of this species. The periostracum is thin, light- to dark-brown. #geukensiagranosissima #southernribbedmussel #sanibel #periostracum

Shell of the Week: The American Horse Mussel

José H. Leal

Apr 16, 2021

Shell of the Week: The American Horse Mussel

Modiolus americanus (Leach, 1815) grows to about 100 mm (about 4 inches!) in parts of the its distribution range. The brown periostracum is heavy and flaky. This species resembles last week’s Shell of the Week, the Southern Mussel. They differ, however, by the usually larger size, much more “obese” shell, and presence of orange and pink hues internally and externally in the shell of the American Horse Mussel. The Southern Horse Mussel has a “skinnier” shell and generally blui

Shell of the Week: The Southern Horse Mussel

José H. Leal

Apr 9, 2021

Shell of the Week: The Southern Horse Mussel

Modiolus squamosus Beauperthuy, 1967 is the less uncommon among the local mussel species. Scattered valves and even complete pairs may be found on local Southwest Florida beaches after storms, particularly during the winter. The species may grow to 65 mm (about 2.6 inches), and the external shell surface is covered with a relatively thin, light-brown periostracum, which contrasts with the distinctive purplish color of the internal surfaces. Southern Horse Mussels can be disti

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