What we are calling Melanella dufresnii is an uncommon species that so far we have found only under rocks on shallow lagoon reefs and in reef quarries. As for other eulimid species, the color is on the animal. The fairly large curved translucent shell resembles published figures of both Melanella dufresnii and Eulima major, and without an indication of animal color in those references our ID must remain somewhat tentative. However, the yellow margins on the animal's anterior end resemble the one we are calling Melanella cumingii, so we suspect they are related.
The white empty shell is difficult to distinguish from Melanella cumingii. The amount of the curve in the spire seems to vary somewhat. The shells below were empty, so no animal color was recorded.
This one is wider for its length and has a bit more curve in the spire. It may be a variation, or may be something different.
Still some decaying material inside the one below. Again, the ID is not certain.
Created 1 July 2017
Updated 1 June 2020