Southwest Florida Shells

by José H. Leal

Family Scaliolidae

Finella dubia

(d'Orbigny, 1840)

Dubious Cerith

Shell size to 4.5 mm; shell elongate, turreted, small. Spire sides straight. Sculpture of three strong, squarish spiral cords. Interspaces with fine spiral striations and axial threads. Outer lip with crenulations corresponding to spiral sculpture. Anterior canal curved. Color cream to light-brown with faint spots of darker color. Frequently found clinging to seagrass blades and on seaweed patches. The additional images (scanning electron micrographs, SEM) show two juvenile shells from Sanibel beach drift. Observe the variation in shell sculpture between these two specimens. All images by José H. Leal.