Peale's Cone
Conasprella pealii
Markings and exact colorations may vary.
A small glossy cone with orange-brown blotches and a low spire.
- Typical size
- 0.5–0.75 in
- How often it turns up
- Uncommon
- Collecting
- Restricted
- Handling
- Possibly venomous
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.
Never hold a live cone in your hand. Empty shells are harmless.
How to tell it apart
- Small, glossy cone
- White to pale tan with orange-brown blotches
- Low, stepped spire with fine spiral lines
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
Jasper ConeConasprella jaspidea
Peale's cone has bold orange-brown blotches; jasper cone has finer grey-brown mottling.
Florida ConeConus anabathrum
Peale's cone stays under an inch; the Florida cone grows larger with a more angular shoulder.
Dusky ConeConasprella stearnsii
Dusky cone is slimmer with a tall spire and dotted rows; Peale's is glossier with orange blotches and a low spire.
More shells in the field guide
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