Cerithium lutosum Menke, 1828 Variable Cerith
Distribution: Florida, Texas to Quintana Roo; Costa Rica, West Indies; Bermuda. Size: 6 to 20 mm.
Description: Color brown, black to grayish-white with brown to reddish mottling; shell shape elongate-conic; sculpture of spiral threads between varying strengths of beaded spiral cords; numerous convex, flat-sided whorls; aperture oval, outer lip white and thickened; varix usually located on body whorl behind edge; columella short, curved, brown; siphonal canal well developed, upturned; slight to obscure anal canal. Habitat: A littoral species found in seagrasses in shallow bays at depths from 0 to 8 m (26 ft).
Remarks: Size-frequency data indicate that C lutosum reach adulthood in approxi¬mately one year. See Houbrick (1974a, 1974b); Andrews (1977). Synonyms: C. variabileC. B. Adams, 1845; C. versicolor C B. Adams, 1850.