Common Atlantic Slipper Shell
Crepidula fornicata
Markings and exact colorations may vary.
Photo: Sarah Abbate via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · cropped & resized · source
A humped oval shell with a shelf inside, like a tiny boat with a deck — often found stacked in chains.
- Typical size
- 0.75–2 in
- How often it turns up
- Very common
- Collecting
- Restricted
- Handling
- Safe to handle
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.
How to tell it apart
- Internal white shelf covering half the opening
- Arched oval outline
- Frequently stacked on other shells
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.
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Commonly confused with
Spotted Slipper SnailCrepidula maculosa
Spotted slipper is sprinkled with small reddish dots; common Atlantic slipper has streaks or is plain.
Spiny Slipper SnailBostrycapulus aculeatus
Spiny slipper is covered in small spines; common Atlantic slipper is smooth and larger.
More shells in the field guide
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