Melanoides cf. turricula (I. Lea, 1850) Fawn Melania

    Upon their initial collection at a pond in northern St. Johns County at Fruit Cove, Florida during October, 2006, the shells illustrated immediately below were believed to be Melanoides turricula - a large Thiarid species previously found elsewhere in Florida. However, closer examination of the shells by Dr. Fred Thompson (Curator of Malacology at the Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville) discounted that specific identification. The shells remain unidentified at the present time (11/19/2006).

[Click on the images below for a more detailed version/additional images]

Melanoides cf. turricula (I. Lea, 1850) Fawn Melania

Melanoides cf. turricula (I. Lea, 1850) Fawn Melania

Melanoides cf. turricula (I. Lea, 1850) Fawn Melania

    Subsequently during a 12/4/2006 routine survey of a small lake in the Arlington area of Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida a very similar, if not the same, species was found there as well. However, the specimens from this location were significantly smaller than those from St. Johns County.

Melanoides cf. turricula (I. Lea, 1850) Fawn Melania

Melanoides cf. turricula (I. Lea, 1850) Fawn Melania

Melanoides cf. turricula (I. Lea, 1850) Fawn Melania

Melanoides cf. turricula (I. Lea, 1850) Fawn Melania In Situ