A beautiful deep-water specimen of Naria acicularis personally collected from Pulley Ridge near the Dry Tortugas, Florida. This attractive cowrie exhibits exceptional natural gloss, rich golden-orange coloration, and a well-defined spotted pattern. The vibrant dorsal coloration and clean overall appearance make this an excellent collector-quality example of a species that is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain.

Collected aboard the F/V AVA PILAR using baited commercial lobster traps set between 240 and 300 feet, this specimen comes from a remote deep-water habitat rarely accessed by collectors.

Specimen Data

Family: Cypraeidae
Species: Naria acicularis (Gmelin, 1791)
Location: Pulley Ridge, Dry Tortugas, Florida
Method: Baited Lobster Trap (240–300 ft.)
Date: February 2026
Collector: Randy Rivera
Vessel: F/V AVA PILAR
Measures: 21.1 mm
TSC #: 0605CYP-TSC

Condition

Excellent overall condition with outstanding gloss, strong coloration, and crisp patterning. A very attractive specimen that displays beautifully from all angles.

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 challenging to acquire, especially personally collected specimens from the Gulf of Mexico. Pulley Ridge material is particularly sought after due to the remote collecting locality and limited availability. Specimens with this level of color and preservation are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain.

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.