The Costellariidae and its close cousin Mitridae, are generally underrated by collectors, perhaps because many of them are a bit smaller than the average shiny cowrie or cone, murex or volute, and identification is notoriously difficult!! That said, they endlessly delight the eye and mind with a surprising array of sculptures (ie, surface features), forms and patterns, as well as often being quite colorful. If you have overlooked them in the past, or just wish to try something different, I strongly recommend these two kindred families. Get yourself a hand lens for the smaller ones (LOTS of things look better up close!!), and prepare to have fun!
We apologize for the confusion of genera in this list…we hope to correct this in the near future!!
(1) Cancilla bacillum Lamarck, 1811....23 mm. F++. Marked in white & gray axial flames...Philippines...$3 (1 available)
39129
(1) Cancilla isabella Swainson, 1840....1100 mm. F++. HUGE specimen with complete apex, good lip and partial periostracum...South China Sea...$100 (1 available)
41920
(1) Cancilla isabella Swainson, 1840....86 mm. F++. Large, glorious, orange marked specimen with great lip and full apex...Taiwan...$70 (1 available)
39387
(1) Cancilla isabella Swainson, 1840....73 mm. F+. Good sized example with nice pattern but somewhat rough lip...Taiwan...$25 (1 available)
39388
(1set) Mitra (Domiporta) granatina Lamarck, 1811....50 to 54 mm. F++. Nice 3 piece set selected to show maximum pattern variability...Philippines...$15 (1 set available)
39660
(1) Mitra (Nebularia) aurora fm. floridula Sowerby, 1874...23 mm. F++. Dark brick red with white subsutural markings...Philippines...$15 (1 available)
37298
(1) Mitra (Nebularia) contracta Swainson, 1820....31 mm. F++. With high pointed spire, pinched in base and bold brown blotched pattern...Philippines...$9 (1 available)
41207
(1) Mitra (Nebularia) coronata Lamarck, 1811....21 mm. F++. Dark brown with a row of white subsutural flames...Philippines...$7 (1 available)
41208
(1) Mitra (Nebularia) ferruginea Lamarck, 1811....32 mm. F+. Axial orange markings look a bit like rust stains, hence the name...Somalia...$6 (1 available)
41282
(1) Mitra (Nebularia) proscissa Reeve, 1844....35 mm. F+. Good sized example with inscised brown spiral grooves...Sri Lanka...$20 (1 available)
37300
(2) Mitra (Neocancilla) clathrus Gmelin, 1791....42, 46 mm. F++. Fresh & dark, with rich walnut brown bands spotted with contrasting pure white...Philippines...$12 (2 available)
36959
(1) Mitra (Strigatella) ticaonica Reeve, 1844....25 mm. F++. Cinnamon brown all over...Hawaii...$7 (1 available)
37301
(1) Mitra aurantia Gmelin, 1791....27 mm. F++. Dark brown colour form with one broad white mid-band...Philippines...$6 (1 available)
36915
(1) Mitra aurantia fm. aurantia Gmelin, 1791....31 mm. F++. Rich brown with yellow sub-sutural band & excellent crenulate lip...Philippines...$6 (1 available)
36924
(1) Mitra aurora fm. floridula Sowerby, 1874....31 mm. F++. Spectacular blood red specimen with white shoulder markings...Philippines...$15 (1 available)
36923
(1) Mitra belcheri Hinds, 1843....114 mm. F+. Tough, heavy, old beast, showing nearly complete self lip repair. Getting hard to find...West Mexico...$15 (1 available)
38057
(5) Mitra cardinalis Gmelin, 1791....62 to 67 mm. F++. Large lovely specimens, selected from dozens and with excellent, finely toothed lips...Philippines...$7 (5 available)
39272
(1) Mitra cf. aurantia Gmelin, 1791....52.5 mm. F++. Totally monstrous specimen of the bright orange colour form...Philippines...$10 (1 available)
39658
(1) Mitra coffea Schubert & Wagner, 1829....24 mm. F++. The colour of a mug of your favorite java...Somalia...$6 (1 available)
41280
(1) Mitra contracta Swainson, 1820....33 mm. F++. Fully mature prime specimen with thick, orange lip & bold brown & pale yellow pattern...Philippines...$9 (1 available)
36922
(1) Mitra decurtata Reeve, 1844....22 mm. F+. Dark brown with pinched in white lip...Somalia...$5 (1 available)
41916
(1) Mitra eremitarium Roding, 1798....53 mm. F++. Good heavy example with fully intact, finely beaded lip...Philippines...$5 (1 available)
39572
(1) Mitra ferruginea Lamarck, 1811....29 mm. F++. Fresh, dark mottled specimen with fully adult finely beaded lip...Philippines...$7 (1 available)
41210
(1) Mitra ferruginea Lamarck, 1811....33 mm. F++. White with red-brown markings & perfect, thickened, crenulate lip...Philippines...$8 (1 available)
36921
(1) Mitra fusca Swainson, 1824....22 mm. F+. Dark gray to brown...Canary Is...$8 (1 available)
16182
(1) Mitra imperialis Roding, 1798....50 mm. F++. Excellent example, large & with totally classic pattern...Philippines...$7 (1 available)
36919
(1) Mitra incompta Lightfoot, 1786....102 mm. F++. Excellent specimen with bold brown axial marks and full, finely dentate lip...$17 (1 available)
41829
(1) Mitra incompta Lightfoot, 1786....84 mm. F++. Good sized specimen, with brown axial bars on pastel orange, and intact finely toothed lip...Philippines...$12 (1 available)
42103
(2) Mitra incompta Lightfoot, 1786....92, 94 mm. F++. Orange banded, with brown axial bars, and great finely beaded lips...Tanzania...$18 (2 available)
41570
(1) Mitra incompta Lightfoot, 1786....86 mm. F++. Orange-tan with brown axial marks and a perfect, beaded lip...Tanzania...$14 (1 available)
41571
(1) Mitra incompta Lightfoot, 1786....91 mm. F++. Big, brown axially lined and orange banded, with intact, dentate lip...Tanzania...$17 (1 available)
42646
(1) Mitra lienardi Sowerby, 1874....27 mm. F++. Good sized example, red & pink banded with red & white dotted spiral cords...Philippines...$10 (1 available)
36927
(2) Mitra luctuosa Adams, 1853....17, 19 mm. F++. Black shell with fine subsutural line...Philippines...$7 (2 available)
38489
(1) Mitra mitra Linne, 1758....125 mm. F+. Huge, heavy example, not often this large now...Philippines...$12 (1 available)
38736
(1) Mitra mitra Linne, 1758....113 mm. F++. Beautifully bright orange spotted specimen with intact, finely dentate lip...Philippines...$12 (1 available)
38737