EAST COAST MARINE SHELLS 



115 



This magnificent species was brought 

 in from fairly deep water off Wilbur, Flor- 

 ida, by fisherman and through the efforts 

 of F. S. Webber. Depth around 30 fathoms. 



PI. 43, Fig, 2 



North Carolina to Florida, west to 



Texas 



MUREX POMUM Gmelin. In this species there 

 are no spines, a short canal, nodulous sur- 

 face, dark brown bands and a lip sometimes 

 tinted with chocolate color. The normal 

 color of the aperture is pale salmon picked 

 out with deep brovTi. Usually there are 

 three varices but there may be four. Length 

 2-3 inches. 



PI. 43, Fig. 3 



Cape Hatteras, North Carolina to 



Venezuela 



MUREX CHRYSOSTOMUS Sowerby. This shell is 

 characterized by one or two spur-like spines 

 on a varix near the aperture. These spurs 

 are generally at the left but sometimes on 

 the back varix, rarely on the right hand 

 near the margin; lips and interior more or 

 less tinged with orange color. Length 2.5 

 inches. 



PI. 43, Fig. 4 



Southern Florida and West Indies 



SUBGENUS PTEROPURPURA Jousseaume 1880 



MUREX TRISTICHUS Dall. Shell delicate; 

 varices placed at one-quarter of a revolu- 

 tion each around the spire; aperture pear- 

 shaped; canal bent to right; canal belong- 

 ing to preceding varix behind it, persist- 

 ent and bent to left; nucleus large, loose- 

 ly coiled. 



This Murex is quite different from 

 any of the shallow v/ater species. Length 

 10-20 mm. Depth range 152-450 fathoms. 



PI. 57, Fig. 18 



Florida Strait and West Indies 



GENUS EUPLEURA H. and A. Adams 1853 

 (BORERS) 



The radula of Murex, the operculum 

 of Thais and the shell resembling Gyrineum 

 indicate relationship to various groups. 



EUPLEURA CAUDATA Say. Color varying from 

 whitish to brown; livid inside; varices 

 and intermediate ribs present. The peculiar 

 shape of the shell is evident in the il- 

 lustration. 



When adult the shell presents a 

 well- cancellated surface. There are five 

 transverse riblets on the back of the last 

 whorl, between two varices; three riblets 

 in front. Length 12-25 mm. 



PI. 45, Fig. 14 



PI. 69, Fig. 11 



Cape Cod to Florida Keys 



EUPLEURA CAUDATA SULCIDENTATA Dall. Spire 

 more elevated than the preceding; spiral 

 threads, except on varices, often absent or 

 obsolete; generally whiter in color, larger 

 in size; in adult form three flattish ribs 

 on the back and two to three in front. 

 Length 1-1.5 inches. 



PI. 45, Fig. 2 



Gulf coast of Florida; Cuba 



GENUS ASPELLA Morch 1877 



ASPELLA OBELISCUS A. Adams. Shell elevated, 

 whorls about eight, nucleus smooth; later 

 whorls with three major and three minor 

 varices; arranged alternately; narrow, 

 sharp, elevated riblets which overlap the 

 varices and form slight spines at their in- 

 tersection, chiefly on the major varices; 

 canal long; narrow and plainly recurved. 

 Length 1 inch, breadth 11 mm. 



The specimen illustrated was found 

 by Mrs. Frank Lyman at Boynton, Florida, 

 apparently the first record for the state. 

 Tryon confused this species with Trltonalia 

 intermedia. 



A. obeliscus is descended from the 

 Pliocene A. engonatus Dall which occurs in 

 the marl at Clewiston, Florida. Living ex- 

 amples of the recent shell will eventually 

 be dredged off the Florida coast. 



PI. 49, Fig. 11 



Palm Beach County, Florida; Texas; 



St. Thomas, West Indies 



GENUS TRITONALIA Fleming 1828, Ocinebra 

 Leach 1847 



Varices numerous; operculum similar 

 to Thais. 



TRITONALIA CELLULOSA Conrad. Aperture 

 small, purplish inside, large prominent ribs 

 with wrinkled lines between them. 



It lives chiefly 1" oyster beds; 

 also observed by the writer living on coral 

 rock, close to mangrove roots, on Little 

 Pine Key, Florida. Length 12 mm. Range 

 0-14 fathoms. 



