Family Muricidae

Shell size to 28 mm; shell thick, whorls with rounded shoulders. Sculpture of 6-9 axial ribs, six to nine on last whorl, crossed by spiral cords. Outer lip thick, with weak teeth. Color light-gray. Aperture color rose or tan. The egg cases are elliptical, with a small stalk. Larvae exit through a tiny spout-like opening. The photo of the live specimen was taken by Amy Tripp on Kice Island, Collier Co., in April 2010.

Shell size to 45 mm; shell similar to Vokesimurex cabritii, but spines very short or absent, except on long siphonal canal. Three varices per whorl, with two, rarely three, axial beaded ridges between varices. Color brown, gray, or reddish. The shell depicted in the main image was collected by Carol Saunders in March 2009 on Sanibel. The live animal picture was by Amy Tripp, taken on Kice Island, Collier County, in April 2010.

Shell size up to 60 Shell with varices present every 120 degrees. Varices bearing spines that extend onto long siphonal canal. Spines on siphonal canal 3 to 7. Color white, cream, pinkish, or yellowish, with darker bands sometimes present, stronger band about mid-whorl, more prominent on body whorl. Shells collected on the beach have worn, blunt spines, those dredged offshore present very sharp spines. The specimen in the secondary image was dredged offshore in the eastern Gulf of Mexico during a research cruise led by Dr. Greg Herbert, University of South Florida.

Shell size to 75 mm; shell solid, elongate. Shell sculpture of fine spiral lines with weak axial growth lines. Last whorls sometimes with nodules on shoulder. Color variable, light gray, yellowish, or tan, usually mottled or checkered with darker brown, grayish, or orange marks. The egg cases resemble minute (about 6 mm tall) curving columns, internally pigmented with burgundy or purple.

Shell size to 80 mm; shell thick, with rough surface. Sculpture of numerous spiral cords and axial ribs, spines absent. Varices strong but spineless. Siphonal canal curved. Color tan to brown, outer lip with three to four dark blotches. Aperture glossy, ivory, buff, salmon, or yellow, with dark-brown spot on apical end of parietal wall. Many females may lay egg masses together, in communal spawning fashion. Individual egg cases (supplementary photos by Amy Tripp) resemble corn kernels. At one time included in the muricid genus Chicoreus.

Shell size to 25 mm; shell delicate, solid. Surface finely pitted. Sculpture of 5-7 major varices per whorl. Anterior canal turned up. Outer lip internally with 5-7 denticles. Color white to grayish-white.

Shell size up to 25 mm; shell thick, whorls with strongly angled periphery. Sculpture of about 12 strong axial ribs crossed by equally strong spiral cords, 5-7 on last whorl, 2 -3 on preceding whorls. Outer lip moderately thick, with 4-6 denticles on inner surface. Color dull brownish-gray. Aperture reddish-brown inside. This species is more common on the mainland areas of San Carlos and Estero bays in Lee County. The juvenile shell on the first supplementary image was collected by dredge off New Port Richey, Florida, by Laura Bedinger, and photographed by Joette Jernigan of the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County in Tampa. The first and third images were of shells found by Ken Piech at Bunche Beach, Fort Myers, respectively in December and January 2021.

Shell size to 24 mm; shell has a "flattened" appearance, thanks to the blade-like varices ("ribs") that occur alternately every 180° (every half-whorl). There may be two or three "bumps," or nodes, present between last two varices. Color variable, often grayish-white to tan, sometimes with brown spiral bands. The shell is not uncommon on the barrier islands beaches, in particular after winter storms. Sharp-rib drills use their teeth, as part of their feeding habits, to etch tiny holes into the shells of other mollusks. Their egg cases, about 5 mm (about 3/16 inch) tall, resemble miniature champagne goblets. The egg cases in the picture, laid on a ponderous ark shell, were collected by Shell Museum founding volunteer Barb Hansen on Algiers Beach (Gulf Side City Park), on Sanibel. Photos by José H. Leal.

Shell size to 81 mm; shell highly ornamented with approximately seven whorls. Three major varices decorated with about ten hollow, frond-like spines. Aperture small, rounded. Siphonal canal recurved. Color yellowish, light-brown, or brownish black in mature specimens to pink or white in young specimens. Juvenile shell bright pink. Egg capsules are vase-shaped and measure about 4 mm in height. Chicoreus dilectus (A. Adams, 1855) is a junior synonym. The photo of the egg capsules in the field was taken by Kim Trebatoski at Bunche Beach, Fort Myers, in June 2014.

Shell size to 29 mm; shell fusiform, with six whorls. Shell sculpture of strong axial ribs crossed by spiral cords. Shoulder forming angle, raised. Suture well-defined. Color light-brown to pink. Aperture color sometimes mauve. Generally similar to Urosalpinx perrugata, differing by thinner and more elongate shell, more elongate anterior canal, well-formed umbilicus, and color of aperture. The supplementary photos, all taken by Amy Tripp on Kice Island, Collier County, show Mauve-mouth Drills feeding on coquinas (Donax variabilis), and egg capsules (arrows) laid on a Horse Conch egg capsule. The capsules on the bottom (lower arrow) are spent.