Apple Murex
Phyllonotus floridanus
Also known as Phyllonotus pomum
Markings and exact colorations may vary.
A rugged, knobby murex with a thick lip and a warm orange-brown mouth, one of the most reliable murex finds on Gulf beaches.
- Typical size
- 2–5 in
- How often it turns up
- Common
- Collecting
- Restricted
- Handling
- Handle with care
Florida allows no live shelling in many counties and parks. If the animal is still inside, photograph it and put it back where you found it.
Check for a living snail before handling. Leave it in place if occupied; rough edges or spines can scratch.
How to tell it apart
- Three heavy varices (raised ridges) per whorl
- Rough, lumpy sculpture
- Orange or brown stained aperture
Where to find these in Florida
Beaches rated very good or excellent for shells. Each page shows today’s score, the best window and access details.
- Anclote Key Preserve State Park · Tarpon Springs
- Bean Point · Anna Maria
- Beer Can Island (Greer Island) · Longboat Key
- Boca Grande Public Beach · Boca Grande
- Bowman's Beach · Sanibel
- Captiva Beach · Captiva
- Cayo Costa State Park · Cayo Costa
- Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park · Naples
- Don Pedro Island State Park · Cape Haze
- Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park · St. George Island
- Gasparilla Island State Park · Boca Grande
- Gulfside City Park (Algiers Beach) · Sanibel
Found one?
Photograph it and BeachNut ranks the likely matches with a confidence read, then logs it to your collection with the beach and date.
Browsing beaches and the full field guide is free. A free account logs unlimited finds and gives you three photo identifications a day.
Commonly confused with
Pitted MurexFavartia cellulosa
Pitted murex stays under an inch and is chalky grey; apple murex is much larger with an orange-brown mouth.
More shells in the field guide
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