First post, identification help needed!!

[shellnut 09]

Ok, so I am a student currently working on a General Biology project that deals with identification of shells.

Heres what we are working with:
<img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j62/ChaseA17/Shells3.jpg" alt="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j62/ChaseA17/Shells3.jpg" style="border:0" />
<img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j62/ChaseA17/Shells2.jpg" alt="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j62/ChaseA17/Shells2.jpg" style="border:0" />
<img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j62/ChaseA17/Shells1.jpg" alt="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j62/ChaseA17/Shells1.jpg" style="border:0" />

Any help in taxonomically identifying these shells or a good way to start working macro>micro level in naming would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Shellnut 09 in Florida

[paul monfils]

Here are some names you can look up online, in no particular order:

Fasciolaria tulipa
Mitra mitra
Mitra papalis
Busycon sinistrum (formerly Busycon contrarium)
Strombus costatus
Cypraea tigris
Cypraea mappa
Chione sp.
Marginella sp.
Macrocallista maculata
Strombus raninus
Strombus alatus
Triplofusus (Pleuroploca) giganteus
Voluta (Cymbiola) imperialis
Melongena corona
Cypraea argus
Cyphoma gibbosum
Cypraea caputserpentis
Haliotis cracherodi
Terebra maculata
Astraea phoebia
Conus spurius
Conus textile
Conus striatus
Voluta (Cymbiola) vespertilio
Murex (Phyllonotus) pomum
Polinices duplicatus
Nerita versicolor
Busycon (Busycotypus) spiratum (or spiratus)
Aplustrum (Hydatina) amplustre
Cypraea cervus
Liguus sp.
Fasciolaria lilium hunteria
Murex (Hexaplex) fulvescens
Conus quercinus
Mercenaria mercenaria campechiensis
Cardium (Dinocardium) robustum
Lambis millepeda
Vasum muricatum
Phalium (Semicassis) granulatum
Casmaria erinacea
Arca zebra
Cymatium femorale
Oliva sayana
Cardium (Trachycardium) egmontianum
Cerithium (Pseudovertagus) aluco
Dentalium sp.
Cancellaria reticulata
Tonna sulcosa
Tonna olearium
Codakia sp.
Cardita floridana
Pecten irradians
Vermicularia spirata
Sinum perspectivum
Tellina radiata

The rest of them are either too small in the picture, or situated at an odd angle or partially hidden or poorly lighted, so I can't tell what they are.  A good place to search is <a href="http://www.gastropods.com" target="_blank"><!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.gastropods.com">www.gastropods.com</a><!-- w --></a>  You can also find many of them on Google Images.

If you can post a straight on, fairly closeup dorsal view of the other small shells I'll give it a shot.  <span class="petit">--Last edited by Paul Monfils on 2009-03-27 06:46:49 --</span>

[shellnut 09]

WOW!

Thanks for the help!

I will post some close-ups this weekend for you to give it a shot!

In the meantime I will check out those websites!

Thanks again and great forum!

[shellnut 09]

Ive got some more pictures for you guys!

Help with identification is much appreciated!!!

<img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j62/ChaseA17/7.jpg" alt="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j62/ChaseA17/7.jpg" style="border:0" />
<img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j62/ChaseA17/6.jpg" alt="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j62/ChaseA17/6.jpg" style="border:0" />
<img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j62/ChaseA17/1.jpg" alt="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j62/ChaseA17/1.jpg" style="border:0" />
<img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j62/ChaseA17/2-4.jpg" alt="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j62/ChaseA17/2-4.jpg" style="border:0" />
<img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j62/ChaseA17/3.jpg" alt="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j62/ChaseA17/3.jpg" style="border:0" />
<img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j62/ChaseA17/4-1.jpg" alt="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j62/ChaseA17/4-1.jpg" style="border:0" />
<img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j62/ChaseA17/5.jpg" alt="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j62/ChaseA17/5.jpg" style="border:0" />

[paul monfils]

Ok, several of the shells in these new photos are already included on the first list of names I provided.  Here are some additional names you can add to the list:

Conus pulicarius
Conus regius
Conus sozoni
Distorsio sp.
Murex (Chicoreus) florifer
Atrina rigida
Geukensia demissa (Modiolus demissus)
Lima scabra
Littorina angulifera
Prunum carneum (Marginella carnea)
Astraea americana
Laevicardium laevigatum

If you do an image search for each of the names on the list, or look them up on the gastropod site I mentioned, I'm sure you will be able to match most of your shells to the proper names.

Paul M.

[shellnut 09]

Here are the last ones!! Thank you so much for your identification help!!

Yall have been a great help! I am going to Sanibel/Captiva, FL in May and will look forward to looking at the shells from a different perspective and maybe even being able to identify some by eye!

<img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j62/ChaseA17/A.jpg" alt="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j62/ChaseA17/A.jpg" style="border:0" />
<img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j62/ChaseA17/B.jpg" alt="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j62/ChaseA17/B.jpg" style="border:0" />
<img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j62/ChaseA17/C.jpg" alt="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j62/ChaseA17/C.jpg" style="border:0" />
<img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j62/ChaseA17/D.jpg" alt="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j62/ChaseA17/D.jpg" style="border:0" />

[cadulus]

The 2 scaphopods might be Pictodentalium vernedei, typically coming from Taiwan. Sometimes the remnants of a small coral could be detected at the posterior (minor), black stained opening

[paul monfils]

A few more names:

Distorsio clathrata
Calliostoma sp. (may be C. jujubinum)
Thais haemastoma floridana
Natica canrena
Oliva sp. (may be O. reticularis)
Turbo castanea
Sinum maculatum

The rest of these have been listed above.  Good luck!