A beautiful deep-water specimen of Naria acicularis personally collected from Tortuga Terrace, Florida. This attractive cowrie displays exceptional natural gloss, vibrant golden-yellow coloration, and fine spotting throughout the dorsum. The shell is well-preserved and presents beautifully, making it an excellent addition to any cowrie or Gulf of Mexico collection.

Collected aboard the F/V AVA PILAR using commercial lobster traps set in 180 feet of water, this specimen originates from a productive deep-water habitat where quality examples are not commonly encountered.

Specimen Data

Family: Cypraeidae
Species: Naria acicularis (Gmelin, 1791)
Location: Tortuga Terrace, Florida
Method: Lobster Trap (180’)
Date: December 2025
Collector: Randy Rivera
Measures: 20.6 mm
TSC #: 0324CYP-TSC

Condition

Excellent overall condition with outstanding gloss, strong coloration, and attractive spotting. The shell displays very well and is free of any major defects.

Please review all photographs carefully, as they are part of the description and condition assessment.

Grade: F+++

Collector Notes

Naria acicularis is a desirable deep-water cowrie that can be difficult to obtain, particularly personally collected specimens from the Gulf of Mexico. Examples with strong color, high gloss, and clean preservation such as this one are increasingly sought after by collectors.

Shipping

Your specimen will be carefully packed and shipped with tracking to ensure safe arrival.

Tortugas Shell Collection – Rare and unusual shells personally collected from the Gulf of Mexico and beyond.