Nymph Dove Shell, Mitrella nympha

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Created 3/28/2026

Family Columbellidae

INDO-WEST PACIFIC / HAWAII

Mitrella nympha

Kaupo, Oahu, 6mm

NYMPH DOVE SHELL

Uncommon under rocks and rubble at any depth. Tapering ends, solid and glossy, nine or ten slightly convex whorls, suture impressed and delineated by weakly-developed beads, outer lip dark, yellow or olive with two bands per whorl of dark flame-like vertical lines creating an 'X' pattern which extends onto the base. Attains 0.4 inch, 10 mm. East Africa to Korea, Tonga, and Hawaii. Mitrella fusiformis is treated by WORMS as a synonym of M. nympha, however it is my opinion that M. fusiformis is a synonym of the ubiquitous Mitrella pudica, since most Hawaiian specimens lack a dark outer lip. Considering the extreme variety of color patterns within this form of Mitrella, I treat these as a species complex.