COLUMBELLIDAE 221 



Genus Anachis H. and A. Adams 1853 

 Anachis avara Say Greedy Dove-shell 



Plate 2566 



New Jersey to both sides of Florida to Texas. 



% to V-y inch in length, moderately elongate, with about a dozen smooth 

 axial plications on the upper half of each whorl. Spiral, incised lines very 

 weak or absent, but strong at the base. Aperture narrow, a Httle less than 

 half the length of the shell. Weak, smooth varix present. The 3 nuclear 

 whorls are smooth and translucent-white. Next few whorls with numerous 

 axial riblets. Color yellowish brown to dark gray-brown over which may be 

 seen a faint pattern of irregular, white, large dots. Sometimes with dark- 

 brown specklings. 4 weak teeth inside inner lip. A very common low-tide 

 mark species. 



Anachis obesa C. B. Adams Fat Dove-shell 



Virginia to Florida, the Gulf States and the West Indies. 



%6 to ^ inch in length, moderately wide, dull grayish with i or 2 sub- 

 dued, spiral brown bands in some specimens. Small, sharp axial ribs are nu- 

 merous; spiral incised lines numerous, not crossing ribs. There is a fairly 

 strong, occasionally knobbed, spiral cord immediately below the suture. 

 Varix large, smooth and rounded. Body whorl behind it usually smoothish. 

 Parietal shield faintly developed, but with a sharp edge. Inner wall of outer 

 lip with about 3 to 5 small teeth. The form ostreicola Melville from north- 

 west Florida is dark-brown and with stronger spiral threads or wider incised 

 lines. This is a common shallow-water species. 



Anachis translirata Ravenel Well-ribbed Dove-shell 



Plate 25flF 



Massachusetts to northeast Florida. 



Similar to avara, but with about twice as many axial ribs which run the 

 entire depth of each whorl, and with strong incised spiral lines throughout. 

 Outer lip with about a dozen tiny teeth. Color drab yellowish to brown, but 

 sometimes with wide, subdued, spiral bands of darker brown. Dredged com- 

 monly just offshore usually from 2 to 20 fathoms. 



Anachis penicillata Carpenter Penciled Dove-shell 



San Pedro to Lower California. 



1/5 inch in length, rather slender, with 6 whorls, of which the first 2 

 nuclear ones are smooth, the remainder with about 1 5 strong axial riblets per 



