Common Dove Shell
Columbella mercatoria
Markings and exact colorations may vary.
A small, sturdy, barrel-shaped shell in bold blotches of brown, white and orange.
- Typical size
- 0.4–0.8 in
- How often it turns up
- Common in rubble drift
- Collecting
- Usually legal to collect
- Handling
- Safe to handle
Empty shells are fine to keep.
How to tell it apart
- Thick, short, oval shell
- Ribbed outer lip with small teeth inside
- Strong blotchy or banded colour pattern
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?
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More shells in the field guide
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