Nutricola tantilla (Gould, 1837)

purple dwarf-venus

Description: The shell has a suboval to subtriangular shape, with a more produced posterior end. The sculpture consists of low, widely spaced commarginal ribs. The coloration is light brown, although sometimes stained darker brown or purple on the posterior end and the interior of the shell.

Size: 5-10 mm.

Ecology: Shallow infaunal, living in soft sediment from the intertidal zone through outer shelf (0-120 m).

Geological range: Alaska (61°N) to Baja California (28°N).

Geographic distribution: Pleistocene to Recent (2-0 million years ago). Reported from the Timms Point Silt (Pleistocene, California), and Quaternary terrace deposits of Baja California (Mexico), the Channel Islands (California), and Oregon.

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