Terebra vinosa Dall, 1889 is a small auger snail that may reach 20 mm (about 0.8 inch). One of the main features that separate this species from other local augers is the shape of the whorl profile: the whorl in side view is concave, and different specimens show different degrees of concavity. The shell sculpture consists of about 22 axial (“vertical”) ribs crossed by flat, indistinctive cords. The species name alludes to the wine shell color, although some individuals may have whitish, cream, light-brown, or reddish-brown shells.
The Lilac Auger, Terebra vinosa. Photos by James Kelly