Common Nutmeg

Cancellaria reticulata

This popular Lee County Beach shell is said to resemble a nutmeg, but it is certainly not common to find a live specimen.

There are no significant variations of pattern or color exhibited by this species, although albinos may be found. The nutmeg features an almost plaid-like appearance, mixing white, orange, and brown. The shell has a beautiful textured surface with crisscrossed, beaded ridges. The only live ones were found during extremely low tides walking as far out as safe, or after very violent storms. It is interesting to note that it is difficult to detect if this shell is alive without comparing its weight to a dead specimen, closely inspecting its aperture (no operculum), or using the sense of smell after the shell has been collected for some time. The picture shows typical nutmeg colors, pattern and sizes.  Four of the shells shown were collected live, and the picture illustrates that there is little difference between live and dead collected nutmegs.

Shell Identification Guide

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