Liguus fasciatus Müller 1774 Florida Tree Snail Shell Damage

    Living in a tree has its advantages but in hurricane prone south Florida it also has its disadvantages as the series of three images below aptly demonstrate. This  Liguus fasciatus specimen was discovered by Robert Pilla about 10 feet up a Gumbo Limbo tree in Matheson Hammock (Coral Gables), Miami-Dade County, Florida shortly after the passing of Tropical Storm Fay during late August, 2008. The winds from the storm apparently blew the specimen out of the tree causing a traumatic perforation of the shell 1/4 to 1/2 whorl in back of the aperture. The specimen has apparently adapted to the shell break and is adding new shell material near the perforation. While the short term survival of the specimen appears to be assured, with two openings in the shell the chance of long term survival appears to be bleak. Digital images by Robert Pilla.