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 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 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

José H. Leal

Dec 4, 2020

Shell of the Week: The Calico Clam

Megapitaria maculata (Linnaeus, 1758) is one of the most attractive local bivalves. Its shell may grow to almost 70 mm (about 2.8 inches). The glossy, translucent periostracum (outer shell layer) is superimposed on a pattern of very fine growth lines. The shells bear variations on a pattern of brown-and-tan checkerboard-like markings. The Calico Clam is a member of the super-speciose (with many species) family of Venus clams, the Veneridae, which includes at least 20 species

José H. Leal

Dec 20, 2019

Shell of the Week: The Florida Lucine

Another local member of the widespread family Lucinidae, Stewartia floridana (Conrad, 1833) grows to about 28 mm (about 1.1 inch). The shell outline is circular, with a squarish, truncated posterior end. The shell surface is smooth, and the external sculpture consists of coarse, irregular growth lines. The thin, brownish periostracum (external, brownish layer) is present in well-preserved shells. Commonly found on the back-bay areas of Sanibel and Captiva. #lucinidae #florida

José H. Leal

Mar 1, 2019

Shell of the Week: The Plicate Mangelia

At 6 mm in length, Pyrgocythara plicosa (C.B. Adams, 1850) is one of the local small-sized gastropods. The shell is elongate-fusiform, with the spire (coiled part minus last whorl) measuring about half shell length. The sculpture consists of 11−12 strong axial ribs crossed by about 5−6 spiral cords. The aperture has a strong indentation on the internal side of outer lip, and shell color is light-brown to reddish-brown, with bluish-white remnants of a periostracum. The Plicat

José H. Leal

Sep 14, 2018

The Fragile Surf Clam

The Fragile Surf Clam, Mactrotoma fragilis (Gmelin, 1791) is a local clam of the surf clam family Mactridae that may reach about 45 mm (about 1.8 inches) in length. Fragile Surf Clams, as its name indicates, has a thin, but relatively resilient shell, with characteristic ridges on the posterior end. The periostracum, or outer, dark shell layer, is more predominant on the posterior end, and the shell never completely closes in that area. The Fragile Surf Clam, Mactrotoma fragi

José H. Leal

Mar 30, 2018

The Coral-eating Mussel

The Coral-eating Mussel, Gregariella coralliophaga (Gmelin, 1791), is a coral-rock boring species, found locally within small coral branches strewn on the beach after storms. The common name is a misnomer, as these mussels do not eat coral, only use the coral skeleton as a substrate for boring. The 20-mm (about ¾ inch) shell is inflated, with a strong ridge on its postero-dorsal part. The shell margins are finely serrated. The shell interior is iridescent, bluish-white. The p

José H. Leal

Nov 24, 2017

The Unequal Spoon Clam

The Unequal Spoon Clam, Periploma margaritaceum (Lamarck, 1801), is a rare find from the muddy, back-bay environments of Sanibel, Captiva, and neighboring areas. The shell is small (rarely reaching more than ½ inch in length), oval, thin, with a posterior keel that runs from the beak to ventral (“bottom”) of the shell valve. The area behind the keel is usually covered with a thick, dark periostracum. The shell valves are unequal, with the left valve more inflated, larger than

José H. Leal

Oct 6, 2017

The Tea Drillia

The Tea Drillia, Cerodrillia thea (Dall, 1884), is another local, small gastropod that may, due to its size, be missed by most casual shell seekers. Its shell reaches 0.5 inch in length, and is elongate and attractive. The shell sculpture consists of 7–9 slightly curved, axial (parallel to the main shell axis) ribs. The shell is light-brown (“tea-colored”), with a very thin grayish-green periostracum (outer, preteinaceous shell layer) present mostly between the axial ribs. Th

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