Curator's Blog

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

Oct 22, 2021

Shell of the Week: The Royal Bonnet

The elegant Royal Bonnet, Sconsia grayi A. Adams, 1855, is a close relative of the famous Scotch Bonnet, Semicassis granulata. The Royal Bonnet, however, dwells in deeper water than the Scotch Bonnet, living at depths from 27−640 m (about 90−2,100 ft.) The species may reach 50 mm (about 2 inches) in length. The immature shell illustrated measures about 30 mm (or 1.2 inches.) It was collected (dredged) in early October during the 2021 Northeastern Gulf of Mexico Cruise led by

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