Atlantic Figsnail Shell on Sanibel Island

ATLANTIC FIGSNAIL

The Atlantic figsnail is one of the first shells many people notice when shelling on Sanibel Island. It’s light, smooth, and easy to recognize for beginning shellers, often lying open among other shells.

The shell has a rounded, fig-like shape with a low spire and a wide opening. It is thin and lightweight, with a mostly smooth surface that may show very fine texture when you look closely or run a finger across it. The exterior is usually white to pale cream, sometimes shading toward light tan. Inside, the shell often shows warmer tones—soft peach, honey, or light brown—that become more noticeable when the shell is turned over. There are no bold markings or heavy ridges; the look is clean and understated.

Atlantic figsnail shells are most often found at low tide, when larger numbers of shells are visible along the shoreline. Look where shells naturally collect, called the wrack line, rather than higher up on dry sand. Because the shell is thin and fragile, many figsnails are cracked or broken by wave action. It’s common to find examples that are mostly intact but show chips along the edge or have the bottom tip broken off.

Ranking on Sanibel: Common Find

Atlantic figsnails are plentiful on Sanibel, which makes them especially approachable for beginners. Their abundance gives shellers the chance to compare sizes and subtle differences in interior color. Even though they’re common, a clean, intact figsnail still feels like a good beach find.

This is a shell that rewards a slower look. On Sanibel, many shellers come to appreciate the Atlantic figsnail not for bold pattern or rarity, but for its shape and quiet interior color—the kind of shell you remember, compare, and begin to recognize more easily the longer you walk the beach.

As always, shelling on Sanibel comes with responsibility. Florida law protects live shells—if an animal is still inside, it must be left on the beach. Only empty shells may be collected. When walking the shoreline, it’s also important to refill any holes you dig while shelling, helping to protect nesting shorebirds and sea turtles that depend on undisturbed beaches, and keeping the shoreline safe for everyone who comes after.