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.

José H. Leal

Mar 6, 2020

Busy, Busy, Bruised Nassa

With a shell reaching only 15 mm (about 0.6 inch), the Bruised Nassa, Phrontis vibex (Say, 1822), is one of most abundant snails in the back bays and sand and mud flats of Southwest Florida. Its shell has a sculpture of 7–12 axial ribs crossed by fine spiral lines of variable size. When it comes to color pattern, the Bruised Nassa is a very variable species, with assorted alternatives around the theme of specks and spots on a lighter background. The image above shows a live B

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