About Bullia digitalis (Dillwyn, 1817)
This species, Bullia digitalis, has an elongated, ovate, subturreted shell that is narrow, smooth, and polished. The shell typically reaches a length of 60 mm, and has a long, pointed spire. It is usually light yellow or creamy, and is often tinged with violet or yellow; it may also be reddish yellow. The shell is made up of seven whorls that are barely convex. The suture separating these whorls is simple, shallow, and submargined, and the apex is moderately pointed. Prominent growth striae are visible on the lowest whorl. The ovate aperture is smooth, widened at the middle, and strongly emarginated at its base. The columella is yellowish, smooth, and arched. A keel runs from the upper third of the aperture to the base of the outer lip; oblique folds fill the space between this keel and the lip edge. The outer lip is simple, thin, sharp, and slightly spread out towards the middle. The operculum has serrated margins. The large, oval foot is offwhite. This species is distributed along the lower east, south, south-west, and west coasts of South Africa, with Kei Mouth being the best location to view it. It inhabits sandy beaches in the surf zone, found low on the shore from the middle tidal zone seawards, where the sand is not too coarse.
