Liguus fasciatus solidus var. mitchelli (proposed)
Description
The shell is typical in most respects to others of the solidus subspecies. A variety of the lineolatus group, it has a pink tip and is unzonated and unvariegated.
This is a large variety, often reaching 65 mm in natural hammocks. Older shells often have a nearly straight columella, while younger shells have the twisted or truncate columella typical of the subspecies. The whorls are rather convex, suggestive of vacaensis. The variety is pure white, with no trace of coloration other than coral, pink, red or reddish rose.The first three or four whorls are pink. The columella, both sides of the parietal callus, and the interior of the palatal lip at the base of the shell are pink, red or reddish rose. The most notable feature is the unique peripheral line, striking in appearance, being broad, smeared at the junctures of new growth or continuously in older shells. It begins as a pale coral or pink, darkening to red or reddish rose. The subsutural line is almost always pink, though a coral pink has been seen.
Range
This has been the dominant variety in the Chokoloskee region, encompassing Chokoloskee Island, Russell Key, Fakahatchee Island and several other nearby islands.
Remarks
This variety seems to be most closely related to the lineolatus of the Key Largo region and to the roseatus of the Ten Thousand Islands region. As with the similar lineolatus, there is never an indication of zonation (e.g., a pale yellow band preceding cuticular green lines). It appears to have been isolated on the southwest coast for a considerable period of time resulting in the distinct and invariable features that give it a unique identity. Nearly all populations known are pure. With the exception of roseatus, other varieties reported from the Ten Thousand Islands were probably more recent introductions from Cape Sable or the Atlantic Coastal Ridge. Pilsbry commented on this particular variety in 1912 and 1946. The following is from Pilsbry, 1946, p. 74, quoting himself in 1912, referring to what he continued to call roseatus.
“At Russell's Key (Fig 35a) there is a form differing by greater solidity.
‘There is no trace of yellow zones on the dead-white surface at any stage of growth. Yellowish-olive lines are often present on the last half-whorl. The subsutural and peripheral bands are bright pink and comparatively wide. The columella is of the heavy, straight, truncate type in all young and about 33 per cent of the adult shells, but non-truncate, and continuous in the majority of adults. The size varies from length 56, diam. 27 mm. to length 65, diam. 30 mm. The total absence of yellow, even in the young, gives this colony a very distinct appearance. It is an incipient race.’ (Pilsbry, 1912)”
It is named for Jake Mitchell of Naples who has expended a substantial amount of time and energy exploring and documenting the fauna and flora of this rather inhospitable part of Florida.
Holotype
The proposed holotype, 59.3 mm, was collected near the old cemetery at Chokoloskee in 1982. It remains in my collection.


Holotype (proposed)
P. L. Poland, 12/03/2011
Notice the extensive smear of color within the aperture near the end of the columella. The overall shape is also unlike the variety from the Key Largo region.

Chokoloskee Island, Pilsbry 1912


Chokoloskee Island
