Fat Dove Shell, Columbella major

Fat Dove Shell, Columbella major. Shell collected off the beach in the greater Los Cabos area, Baja California Sur, June 2018. Size: 2.7 cm (1.1 inches) x 1.7 cm (0.7 inches).

The Fat Dove, Columbella major (G.B. Sowerby I, 1832), is a gastropod mollusk that is a member of the Columbellidae Family of Doves. The shell is that have diamond shaped smooth, fairly thick shells. The top of the body whorl is extra wide, forming a “spout” at the aperture; the aperture has dentition on both sides. They exterior of the shell vary from tan to dark brown in color and are covered with white spots and botches that are more numerous at the anterior end and may form a pattern, following along the whorl. The interior is white. They are covered with a rough periostracum. Fat Dove shells reach a maximum of 3.3 cm (1.3 inches) in length and 2.1 cm (0.8 inches) in height.

Fat Doves are found on, under, and rocks in the intertidal zone. They range from the greater Cabo San Lucas area, Baja California Sur to Peru including the extreme southern portion of the Sea of Cortez. They have not been documented along the West coast of Baja.

A synonym is Columbella gibbosa.