The Green Erato, Hespererato maugeriae (J.E. Gray, 1832), is a species of the family Triviidae, a family also locally represented by the Coffee Bean Trivia, Niveria pediculus (Linnaeus, 1758) (this latter species was treated in this column three years ago). The Green Erato is a small species (about 0.2 inch), but one with a very attractive shell. The shell is pear-shaped, broader at the apex, tapering to a narrow, but blunt base. Outer lip thickened with tiny teeth. Color tan, yellowish, or greenish-cream. Erato was one of the nine Muses in the Greek Mythology, the goddess of music, song, and dance. Unless stated otherwise, the shells illustrated in this column are part of the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum scientific collection.
The Green Erato, Hespererato maugeriae, from Sanibel Island. Photo by José H. Leal.
