Milk Moon Snail
Polinices lacteus
Markings and exact colorations may vary.
A smooth, glossy, pure milky-white moon snail.
- Typical size
- 0.75–1.25 in
- How often it turns up
- Uncommon
- Collecting
- Restricted
- Handling
- Safe to handle
Empty shells are fine to keep on most public beaches. Live shelling is banned in Lee County and Florida state parks and needs a fishing license elsewhere — if an animal is inside, put it back.
How to tell it apart
- Glossy white, round shell
- Low spire and large oval aperture
- White callus partly covering the umbilicus
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
Shark EyeNeverita duplicata
Milk moon snail is pure white with a white callus; shark eye is grey-brown with a brown button.
Southern Moon SnailNeverita delessertiana
Milk moon snail is all white; southern moon snail is tan with a brown button.
More shells in the field guide
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