top of page


 

Posted: Apr 29 2025

I made this trip to Ft. Pierce Inlet in hopes of observing a live Strombus pugilis form alatus, a species that is reappearing north along Florida's east coast from Palm Beach County after disappearing along this range about 35 years ago.  My interest was attracted due to an observation reported on iNaturalist.  

My search area was on the northern side of the inlet channel.  The habitat is one of soft, muddy sand and sparse seagrasses.  I timed my visit for a     -0.8 tide.

I spent about three hours trudging through the soft sand and over exposed flats and shoreline.  Overall, few live mollusks were observed.

Ft. Pierce shelling area 4.26.25.jpg
Ft. Pierce 4.26.25 010.JPG
Ft. Pierce 4.26.25 009.JPG

Here are the species I encountered.  I did not bother documenting old, broken shells.

Strombus alatus 18.jpg
Strombus gigas Ft. Pierce.jpg
Cerithium atratum 11.jpg
Phrontis polygonata 33.jpg
Phacoides pectinata 10.jpg
Phacoides pectinata 11.jpg
Anodontia alba 7.jpg
ISOGNOMON ALATUS 7.1.jpg
bottom of page