Sphenia dubia (H. C. Lea, 1843) Dubious Sphenia
    This, like other nestlers, is quite variable conchologically. Recent shells we attribute to this species cannot be separated from those of this Miocene fossil. Sphenia attenuata Dall, 1898, and Sphenia antillensis Dall and Simpson, 1901 are apparent synonyms from the Pliocene and Recent faunas respectively. Coan (1998) states that the E. Pacific S. fragilis Carpenter, 1857 is synonymous with our (Recent) taxon, which he distinguishes from the above two fossil taxa (Coan, 1999). Observed in abundance attached to wave-dashed intertidal rocks in Flagler Co.; also Duval, St. Johns, St. Lucie (Lyons, 1989), Pinellas Counties and Georgia. Enlarges known range for the genus vs. Abbott (1974): “South Padre Is. ...Brazil.”

Sphenia dubia (H. C. Lea, 1843) Dubious Sphenia
    Scraped off north jetty rocks among seaweed, Sebastian Inlet, Brevard County, FL (top specimen 9 mm. and bottom group 5-9 mm.). Collected and photographed by Marlo Krisberg.