Terebra dislocata, Atlantic Auger or Eastern Auger

Photos of the Atlantic Auger, Concave Auger and Eastern Turretsnail, scientific classification and general information on habitat and range..

Eastern Auger #01
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Auger Shaped - augers (Terebridae) Concave Auger Terebra concava (Say) Description: (1 inch) Long, slender spire. Similar to eastern auger except for concave whorls. Beaded spiral rows. Canal at bottom of aperture. Then operculum. Color: Yellowish gray exterior. Tan operculum. Habitat: Occasionally washed onto ocean beaches. Range: North Carolina to Brazil. Notes: Hatched young crawl away. Source: Seashells of North Carolina, North Carolina Sea Grant College Program Photo by Scott D. Taylor

Eastern Auger #02
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Eastern Auger #03
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Eastern Auger #04
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Auger Shaped - augers (Terebridae)

Eastern auger Terebra dislocata (Say)
Description: (2 1/4 inches) Long, pointed spire. Whorls not concave. Prominent spiral cord at top of each whorl that winds around 20 to 25 low axial ribs. Smaller spiral cords between axial ribs. Canal at bottom of aperture. Thin operculum.
Color: Varied exterior with bands of pale gray, pinkish brown or orange-brown. Tan operculum.
Habitat: Lives in sounds and offshore on shallow sand flats. Common on sound and ocean beaches.
Range: Virginia to Brazil.
Notes: Also called a common American auger or Atlantic auger. A carnivore, it lacks the radula and poison gland found in most other augers. Hatched young crawl away.
Source: Seashells of North Carolina,
North Carolina Sea Grant College Program

These are photos of my Eastern Auger collection, one of my favorite shells, which is understandable after seeing how beautiful they are. I keep them in a small storage container. As you can see, the augers are various size and color, ranging from light pink hues to a mixture of brown.

To date, I do not have either the concave auger or the eastern turretsnail, which has many features in common with the Atlantic Auger.

Eastern Auger #05
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Eastern Auger #06
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Eastern Auger #07
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Eastern Auger #08
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Eastern Auger #09
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Eastern Auger #10
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Eastern Auger #11
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Eastern Auger #12
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Auger Shaped turretsnails (Turritellidae) Eastern Turretsnail turritella exoleta (Linnaeus) Description: (2 3/4 inches) Small, slender, tightly coiled shell with a high, sharply pointed spire. Strong, smooth spiral cord at top and bottom of each whorl and concave between. Round aperture with a thin lip. Bristles on edge of operculum. Color: Whitish exterior with brownish markings. Habitat: Lives in deep offshore waters. Range: North Carolina to Brazil. Notes: Also called a common turret shell. This species is a filter feeder. Source: Seashells of North Carolina, North Carolina Sea Grant College Program Photo by Scott D. Taylor

References and Further Reading

Hermit Crabs photographed inside Auger Shells.

More Atlantic Auger Photos

Terebra dislocata (Say, 1822) - Eastern Auger Terebra dislocata (Say, 1822) Eastern Auger.
Big Talbot Island, Duval Co., Florida 6/1/2004 (about 22 mm.)

ITIS 'Taxon
Author(s)' Search results citing "Say, 1822"
Terebra dislocata (Say, 1822) -- valid -- eastern auger.
Urosalpinx cinerea (Say, 1822) -- valid -- Atlantic oyster drill

Southwest Florida Shells: Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum
Eastern auger, Enlarge Family Terebridae Terebra glossema Schwengel, 1942 Tongue auger, Enlarge Family Terebridae Terebra protexta (Conrad, 1846)

ADW: Terebridae: Classification
Species Terebra dislocata (eastern auger). Species Terebra doellojuradoi. Species Terebra floridana (yellow auger). Species Terebra glossema (tongue auger)

Terebra dislocata (Say, T., 1822)
Atlantic/Common American/Eastern Auger, 20 - 64 mm
Maryland, USA - Costa Rica; Jamaica; NE Brazil; California, USA - Panama

Shell Catalogue - Group Auger
Dimidiate Auger · Duplicate Auger · Dussumier's Auger · Eastern Auger · Ecuadorian Auger · Evelyn's Auger · False Auger · Faval Auger · Fimbriate Auger

ITIS Standard Report Page: Terebra Species
Terebra dislocata (Say, 1822) -- eastern auger. Species, Terebra doellojuradoi Carcelles, 1953. Species, Terebra floridana Dall, 1889 -- yellow