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  • José H. Leal

The Mauve-mouth Drill


The Mauve-mouth Drill, Calotrophon ostrearum (Conrad, 1846), is one of the local species of drills in the family Muricidae of gastropod mollusks. Reaching about an inch in length, Mauve-mouth Drills prey on small mollusks, showing a preference for bivalves such as the Coquina shown in the picture on the right. The Mauve-mouth Drill must not be confused with its "cousin," the Gulf Oyster Drill. This latter, also a member of the Muricidae family, has a slightly smaller shell, with shorter anterior canal (the tube-like projection of the shell), and more delicate shell surface.


Photo on the right, by Amy Tripp, shows a drill in the act of eating a Coquina. Photo on left by José H. Leal.

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