Bleeding Tooth or Four-Toothed Nerite (Weathered)
Phylum: Mollusca, Class: Gastropoda, Order: Cycloneritida, Family: Neritidae, Genus: Nerita, Species: fulgurans · Neritidae (Nerite family) · Gastropod (univalve); globose/spiral shape; worn whole shell.
Species
Nerita fulgurans or Nerita peloronta (Likely Nerita fulgurans)
Shell Type
Gastropod (univalve); globose/spiral shape; worn whole shell.
Family
Neritidae (Nerite family)
Size
Approximately 15-22mm (about 0.75 inches). This is consistent with intermediate-sized nerites commonly found in the Caribbean.
Color & Pattern
Uniformly creamy white to beige. The specimen appears heavily sun-bleached and water-worn, having lost the typical dark spiral bands and 'bleeding' orange/red coloration around the columella teeth.
Rarity
Very Common. These are some of the most ubiquitous shells found on rocky Caribbean beaches.
Habitat
Intertidal zone, typically found clinging to rocks, within limestone crevices, or on jetties where they are exposed to ocean spray and wave action.
Geographic Range
Common throughout the Caribbean, Florida, Bermuda, and the Gulf of Mexico, including the Cancun/Yucatan region of Mexico.
Description
A sturdy, globose gastropod with a low spire. The exterior shell is characterized by strong spiral cords. While this specimen is eroded, the thick, rounded shell structure and wide aperture (typical of Neritidae) remain evident.
Key Features
Rapidly expanding body whorl, thick shell wall, and coarse spiral ribbing. The flat, wide columellar area (the 'deck') usually features small bumps or 'teeth'.
Collector Value
Minimal financial value ($0-$1) due to heavy weathering, but excellent as a representative specimen of Caribbean rocky-shore ecology.
Condition Notes
Poor to Fair (Beach-worn). The shell has lost its periostracum and vibrant color patterns due to tumbling in the surf and sun exposure. The lip is slightly eroded.
Interesting Facts
Living Nerites have a 'homing' behavior, returning to the exact same rock crevice every day after grazing on algae during high tide or at night to avoid desiccation.
Ecological Role
Primary consumer/herbivore. They play a vital role in controlling algal growth on coastal rocks and serve as a food source for shorebirds and crabs.
Similar Species
Nerita peloronta (Bleeding Tooth) which usually has an orange stain, and Nerita tessellata (Checkered Nerite) which is typically smaller with black and white spotting.
Beach Finding Tips
Look near rocky outcrops or tide pools during low tide. They are often found trapped in the 'drift line' where seaweed and debris accumulate on sandy beaches near rocky areas.
Notes
Cancun