Tagelus plebeius (John Lightfoot, 1786) Stout Tagelus |
Although occasional empty shells of this species are found in sheltered waters in northeast Florida and archeological excavations indicate that the species was a staple in the diet of prehistoric inhabitants (see: Archaeology Team Really Digs Shells), live specimens had eluded this reporter during two decades of shell collecting. This dearth of live specimens ended on 2/20/2011 when an assembly of live specimens was discovered on a sand bar at the north side of Nassau Sound in Nassau County, Florida. This midden of sorts was apparently assembled by an as yet unidentified animal. The following day a return visit to the same area revealed an additional assembly of live specimens in nearby marsh grass as is pictured below. |
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North side of Nassau Sound just west of the George Crady Bridge fishing pier, Nassau County, Florida 2/21/2011 |