Coffee Bean Shell (Coffee Bean Trivia)
Phylum: Mollusca, Class: Gastropoda, Order: Littorinimorpha, Family: Triviidae, Genus: Trivia, Species: Trivia pediculus · Triviidae (Trivia family) · Gastropod, whole shell, oval/globular shape
Species
Trivia pediculus
Shell Type
Gastropod, whole shell, oval/globular shape
Family
Triviidae (Trivia family)
Size
Approximately 1/2 inch (12-15 mm), which is typical for this species. Adults generally range from 8 to 18 mm.
Color & Pattern
Mottled brownish-pink or beige base color with distinct darker spots or blotches across the dorsum, separated by a pale longitudinal furrow. The colors on this specimen appear somewhat weathered and sun-bleached from wave action.
Rarity
Common, frequently found by dedicated beachcombers searching shell lines and coral rubble.
Habitat
Shallow subtidal waters, coral reefs, and under coral rubble or rocks, typically found from the intertidal zone down to moderate depths of several meters.
Geographic Range
Western Atlantic Ocean, including southern Florida, the Caribbean Sea, the Bahamas, and parts of the Gulf of Mexico.
Description
A small, highly distinctive oval-shaped marine snail shell featuring a characteristic deep central longitudinal furrow across the back (dorsum) crossed by fine, prominent ribs. The underside is flattened with a narrow aperture lined with distinct teeth along both lips.
Key Features
The presence of a clear, indented longitudinal furrow along the top (dorsum) crossed by continuous transverse ribs, resembling the appearance of a coffee bean.
Collector Value
Low to moderate value as an individual specimen. They are popular starter shells for micro-mollusk and miniature shell collectors due to their charming shape.
Condition Notes
Fair condition. Shows visible surface wear and smoothing due to tumbling in the surf, with some loss of original vivid coloration and pattern definition. Collectibility grade is Fair.
Interesting Facts
Despite their resemblance to cowries, trivias are actually more closely related to false cowries and part of a different family. The living animal features a brightly colored mantle that extends over the shell to keep it polished.
Ecological Role
These snails feed primarily on colonial ascidians (sea squirts) using their radula, playing a micro-predatory role in reef and shallow-water benthic ecosystems.
Similar Species
Pustularia nucleus (Nucleus cowrie) and other Trivia species such as Trivia suffusa, which lack the exact rib and furrow configuration of Trivia pediculus.
Beach Finding Tips
Search among shell hash, coral rubble piles, and drift lines on tropical sandy beaches, particularly following storms or high tides.