Southwest Florida Shells

by José H. Leal

Family Mangeliidae

Brachycythara biconica

(C.B. Adams, 1850)

Biconic Top Turrid

Shell size to 6 Typically, the shell sculpture has a "frosted" aspect, with a sculpture of interrupted spiral microgrooves, and 15 larger axial ribs per whorl (but this number can vary). The species name alludes to the "double-cone" shape of the shell. The color is cream-white, with a broad light-brown spiral band at mid-whorl and another, narrower, just below suture. The shell in these images was collected in 1999 by Herb Chapin, near Beach Access number 6 off West Gulf Drive, on Sanibel.