This beautiful Phyllonotus whymani is a personally collected deep-water specimen recovered while commercial lobster fishing at Pulley Ridge in the Dry Tortugas. Featuring attractive orange coloration, a glossy surface, and crisp spiral sculpture, this shell is an excellent representative of the species and a desirable addition to any Gulf of Mexico or Muricidae collection.

Specimen Data

Family: Muricidae
Species: Phyllonotus whymani Petuch & Sargent, 2011
Location: Pulley Ridge, Dry Tortugas, Florida
Method: Baited lobster trap (220–240 ft.)
Date Collected: January 2026
Collector: Randy D. Rivera
Measures: 17.7 mm
TSC #: #0848MUR-TSC

HMS-ISGS Grade

Good Quality

This specimen falls within the Good Quality category of the HMS-ISGS grading system. It retains pleasing natural color and overall form while exhibiting moderate wear to portions of the sculpture and outer lip from life and deep-water commercial trap collection. Despite this wear, it remains a very collectible specimen with excellent provenance.

Condition

A solid collector specimen displaying attractive orange coloration, a clean aperture, and an intact siphonal canal. The shell shows moderate wear and softening of the varices and shoulder sculpture, along with minor edge wear consistent with deep-water trap-collected specimens. These imperfections do not detract from the shell’s overall appeal and authenticity as a personally collected specimen from Pulley Ridge.

Please review all photographs carefully, as they are part of the description and accurately represent the exact specimen you will receive.

Shipping

Your specimen will be professionally packaged with care and shipped fully insured with tracking to ensure it arrives safely.

Thank you for supporting Tortugas Shell Collection, where every specimen is personally collected and professionally curated from the deep waters of the Dry Tortugas for collectors who value provenance, quality, and exceptional marine shells.