Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: Animalia |
| Phylum: Mollusca |
| Class: Gastropoda |
| Order: Neogastropoda |
| Family: Vasidae |
| Genus: Volutella |
| Species: Volutella floridana (McGinty, 1940) |
Information
Geological Range
Paleogeographic Distribution
Stratigraphic Occurrences
| Bermont Formation [Common] |
Remarks
Common name: Florida vase snail.
Synonymy:
Previously listed as Vasum floridanum on the Neogene Atlas of Ancient Life.
Type specimen, locality, and stratum: n/a
Other voucher specimens: n/a
Descriptions:
Original Description (from McGinty, 1940, p. 82):
“Shell large, spire somewhat elevated, whorls about 7 (nucleus lost), prominently spined; a single row of large spines, not sharp, nine in number on the last whorl; surface sculpture of irregular mostly small spiral ridges, most conspicuous are two flat v-shaped ridges below the crown and two rounded ridges with a smaller between just above the basal spines, two rows of basal spines, about 6 in number with a smaller ridge below not spined each about equidistant; columellar plaits 4, upper largest; surface of shell covered with fine rugose lines of growth. Height 108 mm. (without nucleus), width 81 mm.
Locality: Ortona Locks, Caloosahatchee Canal (south side), Glades County. Horizon: Caloosahatchee marl. Pliocene. Holotype in McGinty collection.
This species may well be the pliocene progenitor of the recent V. muricatum. So far only the holotype, in splendid condition, and a recognizable fragment of this grand shell have turned up in the Caloosahatchee beds. V. floridanum differs from V. muricatum in having a more elevated spire, being gracefully spined and the sculpture is quite unlike the heavy ridges of the recent species.”
To access this description in its original formatting through the Biodiversity Heritage Library, click here.
Measurements: n/a
Other remarks: n/a
References: n/a
Online resources:
Page history:
Some of the content on this page was originally published on the Neogene Atlas of Ancient Life on March 7, 2016. It was developed by Jonathan R. Hendricks and colleagues and migrated here in 2026.
This page was last modified on October 28, 2026 by Jonathan R. Hendricks.
Media
Images