What is "columbella mercatoria"

Columbella \Col`um*bel"la\, n. [NL., dim. of L. columba a dove. So called from a fancied resemblance in color and form, of some species.] (Zo["o]l.) A genus of univalve shells, abundant in tropical seas. Some species, as Columbella mercatoria, were formerly used as shell money.

Columbella mercatoria is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Columbellidae, the dove snails.