Southwest Florida Shells

by José H. Leal

Family Tornatinidae

Acteocina candei

(d'Orbigny, 1841)

Cande's Barrel Bubble

Shell size to 5 mm; shell small, cylindrical. Spire usually around 1/5 shell length or slightly more. Sculpture of very fine growth lines. Shoulder keeled in juvenile specimens, round in adults. Protoconch partially sunken. Aperture long, narrow, outer lip flaring anteriorly. Subsutural band moderately to strongly etched. Columella with single fold. Color porcellaneous-white. Foot and mantle translucent-white, with irregular opaque-white spots. No black pigmentation present. Cephalic shield and propodium present. Prefers open water but may be found in protected, bay areas. The shell in the main photo was tentatively identified by Paula Mikkelsen. Photos of live snail (Sarasota Bay) by Ángel Valdés.