Dear Marlo,

Details are coming back to me now that I have given more thought to this
subject.  Back in the 80's I collected Cymatium aquatile in 8 to 10 feet
of water under dead reef rocks near Fowey Reef Light off Miami.  When I
collected Cymatium pileare they were also found under rocks much closer
inshore.  The rocks were near the common (Thalassia) seagrass. (I think
that is the correct spelling).  I also found some dead C. pileare
offshore in 60 feet of water off Boynton Beach, Florida.
If I recall correctly, (I hope) I believe the Cymatium aquatile had long
tufts of periostracum on each of the nodules of the last whorl. C.
pileare also has these tufts but nowhere near as prominent.

Andrew Dickson
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