126 Marine Shells of the Western Coast of Florida 



minth than of a shelled mollusk. 



Distrihution of the family is chiefly in cold seas, but some 

 species are native to warm waters. 



Genus LAMELLARIA Montagu, 1815 

 Lamellaria coclunella--^ l. Perry PI. 47, fig. 326 



Alt., 6; greatest diam., 4; greatest thickness, 3; height from 

 upper angle of aperture to apex, 1.5 mm. Shell auriform oblique; 

 pure white with glossy, diaphanous epidermis; apex and succeeding 

 whorl extremely small; nucleus depressed; second whorl larger, 

 convex; body whorl convex, widely expanded; sutures incised, dis- 

 tinct. Above periphery of body whorl are two famt, revolvmg, in- 

 cised lines, with a less distinct, interrupted line nearer suture; delicate 

 incremental lines form longitudinal striations over entire surface. 

 Aperture wide, entire; sharp outer lip somewhat protracted into a 

 thin callus over lower convexity of whorl above; columella evenly 

 concave. 



A number of individuals of this species were found associated 

 with colonies of compound ascidians dredged in four to six fathoms 

 off Captiva and Sanibel Islands, Florida. The mollusk is brilliant 

 red or milky white. The reflected mantle entirely covers the shell. 

 The general appearance of the animal and its undulating movement 

 suggests a nudibranch or a flatworm more than a shelled mollusk. 



Lamellaria leucosphaera'-'-'* Schwengel PI. 47, figs. 327a, b 



Alt., 16 mm.; diam., 15 mm.; thickness 11 mm. Shell naticoid, 

 thin, transparent, with a slight milky cloudiness, smooth, shining and 

 faintly iridescent; nucleus small, flat and glassy, of about one- 

 fourth whorls, followed by two abruptly larger, convex whorls, suture 

 impressed; sculpture of fine incremental lines; aperture broad, ovate, 

 nearly two-thirds the size of shell; columella concave, spirally 

 gyrate, allowing a view up the spire from the base of the shell. 



Description of the animal was made from a living specimen, 

 observed closely over a period of days by Louise M. Perry. 



Length 20 mm., width 15 mm., height at center 16 mm. In external 

 appearance the animal is grayish, jelly-like, oval in outline, gently and 



^-^ Lat., dim. of lamina, plate, leaf, layer; Fr., cochiniUr, Castilian red. 

 --* Gr., leucos, white ; Lat., sphacra, globe. 



