Southwest Florida Shells

by José H. Leal

Family Marginellidae

Prunum apicinum

(Menke, 1828)

Common Atlantic Marginella

Shell size to 10 mm; shell pear-shaped. Surface highly polished. Body whorl comprising most of shell. Aperture narrow. Outer lip thickened, usually with two small brown spots. Columella with four folds. Color golden, orange, orange-brown, greenish-gray, or grayish. Very common in seagrass beds. The pictures of the live animals were taken by (on left) Amy Tripp on Goodland, Collier County and (on right) by Lorin Buckner at Bunche Beach, in Fort Myers.