Southwest Florida Shells

by José H. Leal

Family Dentaliidae

Graptacme eborea

(Conrad, 1846)

Ivory Tusk Shell

Shell size to 36 mm; shell tubular, glossy, devoid of ribs or major sculptural features. Apex (often missing) with about 20 very fine longitudinal lines and apical notch; supplementary tube (see inset figures on center and lower right) sometimes present, mostly in younger individuals. Curvature variable, but never extremely pronounced. Color ivory-white, apex sometimes salmon color. Not uncommon on Sanibel. (Entry prepared in cooperation with Rebecca Mensch.)