Shell of the Week: The Sigsbee’s Cerithiella
- José H. Leal
- May 2
- 1 min read
Cerithiella sigsbeana is a small gastropod of the family Newtoniellidae that reaches only 13 mm (about 0.5 inch). Its elongate shell is adorned with four beaded spiral cords (“ridges”). The specimen is catalogued as Cerithiella cf. sigsbeana in the Museum collection. After a consultation with Dr Mauricio Fernandes (a marine biologist at Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and a specialist of the Newtoniellidae), he suggested that this species could be a variation extreme of C. sigsbeana, with very pronounced beads on the spiral cord; the “cf.” in this case means “compare with”, meaning that further comparisons are needed before we can be sure that our specimens are indeed that species.
The species was named by William H. Dall in 1881 after Admiral Charles D. Sigsbee, who from 1875 to 1878 commanded the U. S. Coast Survey Steamer Blake (the ship that collected the types--shells examined in the original description of the species). The shell in the photos (in three views) was collected off Key West, Florida (in the Gulf of Mexico), by the Research Vessel Pelican (Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium) and donated to the Museum by Dr Emilio García.
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I've always been fascinated by the intricate details of seashells, even the tiny ones. This article reminded me of a beach trip I took as a child, where I spent hours sifting through sand, marveling at the variety of shapes and patterns. While I never found a Cerithiella sigsbeana, I remember the thrill of discovering a perfect little shell and imagining its journey from the deep sea to my hand. If you're looking for a way to unwind and engage with something a little less granular, Block Blast is a nice game.
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